Climate change is here to stay, and weather systems are gathering strength with each passing season. The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes bearing high-speed winds.
Panama City is a prime example of what can happen to trees during high-wind weather events. Almost every tree in the coastal city was destroyed during the violent 2017 hurricane. We know because we were there helping with the cleanup.
At least some of the storm damage could have been avoided with the proper preventative measures.
Some trees flaunt a seemingly indestructible girth. But even the mightiest tree can be laid to waste if subjected to copious rainfall followed by hurricane-force winds. Extreme weather events can damage or even kill a tree from its intricate root system up to its massive canopy.
In this article, we’ll discuss a few of those measures that may decrease the odds of your leafy green giants from being toppled or torn to shreds in the next hurricane season.
Make sure your trees are healthy and strong
If you have the option of selecting wind-resistant species, the next step is to ensure that they are well-tended. Even if the trees on your property belong to a more vulnerable species, the proper care will certainly make your trees far more weather resistant. Here are a few suggestions to bolster the health and strength of your trees:
- Regular, thorough watering
- Consistent, proper fertilization
- Regular pruning
- Wrap the trunk with protective materials like burlap or row cover if high winds are anticipated.
- Avoid excavation near your tree (it’s important, especially during storms to keep the roots deeply grounded)
- Laying an extensive mulch ring at the base preserves nutrients and water. But don’t place it too high up the trunk. The vital gas and air exchange are at the base.
- Make sure to plant a tree in the proper location by taking advantage of cover to protect young trees from strong winds.
- Stake young trees to reduce wind damage.
Never wait for signs of ill health or damage to start taking care of your beloved tree!
Trimming and pruning trees to prepare for a hurricane
Proper pruning of your tree is probably the most important step in protecting it from extreme storm damage. Structural pruning of the large aspect ratio branches is believed to suppress mechanical stress on big limbs. In a perfect world, this process would begin in the nursery to ensure strong limb architecture without wounding or damaging the tree. However, most municipal arborists are faced with the task of structural pruning on fully grown trees. If the arborist has the opportunity to prune a younger tree, the better the outcome.
Proper pruning has many advantages:
- Removal of dead or damaged branches enhances the growth and structure of the tree.
- Consistent trimming can make trees resistant to storm damage.
- Pruning beautifies and shapes your tree.
However, if the pruning is done improperly, it may have a negative impact on your tree. It’s wise to consult a professional.
Some highly-regarded horticulturists have weighed in on this issue and are quite vocal when it comes to the importance of the structural pruning process.
Dr. Ed Gilman, Professor of Urban Trees & Landscape Plants, University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department has diligently researched the effects of pruning on tree stability and recently stated that: “Only a few researchers are tackling pruning right now, and that can be frustrating.”
Dr. Gilman is Florida-based and is highly cognizant of the fact that selective pruning enhances any tree’s ability to survive a high-wind event. He is passionate about this practice and does regular outreach to municipal arborists to teach them his techniques based on his research findings.
Gilman is still researching those techniques along with his colleagues to determine exactly where to make cuts in the crown of the tree. His discoveries are revolutionizing the way commercial arborists prune trees and he concludes: “The arborist should prune the large aspect ratio branches—those that are big compared to the main trunk(s)—to get huge benefits in how trees function in storms.”
To prove this point, Gilman studied eighty live oak trees. Twenty were raised, twenty unpruned, twenty were thinned, and the remaining twenty were given reduction pruning. Not surprisingly, the twenty oaks pruned by reduction faired the best. Gilman describes the reduction pruning process as, “reducing the length of a branch or stem back to a live lateral branch large enough to assume the terminal role—this is typically at least one-third the diameter of the cut stem.”
Preventative measures are of the utmost importance for maintaining your trees’ ultimate well-being.
Simply following the advice given here may effectively ward off irreparable damage or tragic tree falling incidents.
Florida is famous for its lush greenery and its vast array of tree species. As weather systems become more threatening, it’s important to ensure the safety and overall health of these towering beauties!
Sources and additional reading
Featured photo by Matin Keivanloo