Hurricane season is well under way, with the most volatile month approaching, September. Invest L99 was bearing down on us and we luckily avoided that one. The next tropical system, however, might hit us spot on. While most homeowners know what to do to protect their home from the ravages of a hurricane, do you know how to protect your landscaping?
You have put a lot of effort and money into making the landscaping around your home beautiful. It is well worth the time to take the proper precautions before a hurricane is on the radar.
To protect your plants from breaking and splitting during hurricane force winds, long term prevention is ideal. But you can also help in the short term as well.
- Starting at the beginning, plant your trees in areas where they are least likely to get damaged and cause damage. So, do not plant them under power lines or in close proximity to your home.
- Try to plant trees with a good root system that are indigenous to the area. Shallow rooted trees are more likely to get uprooted and create damage. Deeply rooted trees that are used to strong winds are ideal to plant in hurricane prone areas such as Florida.
- If your tree has a large canopy, continue to trim it down and cut loose a lot of the bulk. By doing this, you will provide a way for wind to flow through the branches instead of pushing against the bulk and breaking branches off.
- Root problems are a sign that the tree can easily lift out of the ground. Inspect the soil for indications of root rot such as mushrooms or a reduction in the amount of leaves.
- A short term, last minute effort that you can perform before a hurricane of tropical storm hits is to prune the tree. Make sure that dead branches and loose pieces are removed. If not, they can become dangerous projectiles that can shatter and break windows.
In Florida, we know the importance of hurricane protection and how to take preventative measures to ward off damage to our homes. Keep in mind that your plants are a part of your home by caring for them on an on-going basis. Visit our gardening center here at Shell Lumber for more tips on plant and tree care. We are located at 2733 S.W. 27th Avenue Miami, Florida 33133, visit us online or give us a call locally at 305-856-6401 or Toll Free 800-621-6391.