When you live in Tallahassee’s tropical climate you know every year, we have a 6-month long Hurricane Season. That timetable starts on June 1st and ends November 30th.
Furthermore, if you’ve lived here more than five years, you know hurricanes, and tropical storms slam Florida and hit most gulf states just about every year.
The damage is extensive, ruins landscapes, and mutilates or destroys Leon County trees and shrubs.
To avoid or minimize those losses Dickerson Landscaping and Lawn Care services has four hurricane-resistant choices you can make long before our rainy season takes off. If planned correctly, those trees will remain standing, help you weather most storms, and possibly save your trees from utter destruction.
Select your Tallahassee landscaping trees carefully
Our first recommendation when planning your landscape design is to consider planting trees that can withstand hurricane-force winds and noted as “Highest” or “Medium-High” from a wind resistance list.
What you’re looking for is a compact tree proven to survive tropical storms and hurricanes. It will have a low center of gravity. Its other attributes are a strong, sturdy trunk, and their root system is deep and symmetrical.
According to the University of Florida, they recommend Sand Live Oaks. Through their research, they have found this tree remains the most resistant to wind damage. If you are looking for a survivor tree, given the right environment and care during its life, the native Sand Live Oak is a great choice.
A few more to consider are the Bald Cypress, Crapemyrtle, Live Oak, Sabal Palm, and Southern Magnolia. These trees typically don’t lose their limbs, get pulled up or blow over during severe tropical storms or intense hurricanes.
Where to plant your Tallahassee trees for maximum hurricane resistance
Our second recommendation is where to plant your hurricane-resistant trees. To provide maximum wind-resistance small trees need a 9-foot by 9-foot area of unobstructed ground space, whereas large trees need three times as much space.
What that means, there can be no obvious ground obstructions or obstacles, i.e., buildings, sidewalks, and streets in the way that blocks root growth. With those dimensions, it allows the tree ample rooting and anchor space. Furthermore, to increase wind-resistance, we recommend planting your trees in groups instead of individually.
What is the age of your Tallahassee hurricane-resistant trees?
Our third recommendation is to know your tree’s age. If your trees got planted within the last 1-5 years or they are very, very old large trees, these, unfortunately, are without a doubt susceptible to hurricane and wind damage.
A young tree’s root systems are not large enough to anchor them to resist the wind. The old trees, on the other hand, will quite often have weak branches, maybe some decay, or it’s coming to the end of the life cycle and has become brittle. If you do have large old trees, please have them inspected for any defects.
How often should you prune your Tallahassee hurricane-resistant trees?
Our fourth and final recommendation should be obvious. Accurate and timely pruning is a crucial part of your tree’s survival during a hurricane. That trimming practice will train young trees. They will become mature and sturdy. The branches will remain healthy and well-spaced along a strong trunk.
Should you have trees taller than 15 feet, we recommend hiring a licensed and certified arborist for pruning these types of trees. They will cut-off dead branches that can fall on people, pets, cars, or houses during a hurricane. But make sure to have your trees examined by a professional arborist annually.
Did you find “How To Prepare Your Tallahassee Trees For Hurricane Season” informative? Then check out Is Your Tallahassee Lawn Ready For Another Hurricane Season we think you’ll find it interesting too.