Storm-Ready Palms

Consider adding a layer of mulch around your plants for added insulation, making sure to leave an inch or two between it and their trunk to prevent moisture accumulation and potential rot.

Careful attention must be given to ensure your palms and other tropical plants have enough hydration prior to storms, Tree Trimming Company in Orlando mentioned that over-fertilizing could weaken roots and make them more vulnerable to damage.

Choosing the Right Palm

Palm trees are native to Florida and other tropical areas, where they have adapted well to hurricane-force winds. Their leaves sway in response to wind blowing past them; their fronds allow most of it to pass through, protecting their core from being affected. Some homeowners opt to have their palms “hurricane trimmed” prior to storms; however, this actually causes more harm than good.

As soon as fronds above 3 to 9 hands (depending on species) have been cut off, there will be nothing protecting the central bud and this may result in its death and therefore that of the entire tree. Furthermore, its role determines future growth patterns and can impact strength of trunk.

Before a hurricane arrives, it is wise to have a professional tree trimming company come out and carefully trim your trees. In particular, this should include removing dead fronds that could become projectiles during high winds while never including crown mutilation or taking action to reduce clock hands below 20.

Preparing for the Storm

Damaged trees from severe storms can become projectiles that cause property damage. Weak branches can tangle in power lines resulting in outages. They could even cause the trees to topple over if their roots become exposed due to construction damage, leading to outages or tree falls.

Consider replacing tall, slender pines that were part of the forest before suburban development with more robust species that can better withstand storm damage. Existing trees with poor root zones may also be more susceptible to falling during severe storms; ensure their roots have adequate coverage in order to ensure that they remain securely planted in the ground and survive storm damage.

Before the storm arrives, review your family’s hurricane plan and identify emergency phone numbers of relatives and out-of-town contacts. Store key documents like birth certificates and passports in waterproof containers. In addition, have first aid supplies on hand as a family. First-aid classes can often be found at local community colleges, hospitals and churches.

Protecting the Trunk

Though trimming tree limbs and shrubs to reduce hurricane risks is tempting, doing so could actually do more damage than good. Tree trimming removes valuable shade while also decreasing their absorption of sunlight, heat and pollution – not to mention uprooted or fallen branches could potentially harm homes, cars and infrastructure.

An arborist trained to prune trees and palms for hurricane-proofing should prune these in the summer before temperatures cool off, before the weather becomes unpredictable again.

Planting climate-adapted tropical and subtropical trees is another effective way to protect ourselves against hurricanes. When selecting tree species, avoid those that offer limited resistance against wind such as queen palms, Australian pines or melaleuca plants which might become vulnerable during storms.

Watering trees early in the day is essential for their survival in cold temperatures, and should never be covered in snow or frost as this may damage its trunk. New plants should also be planted at least 20 feet from driveways, sidewalks and streets so they have time to develop strong roots that adapt well to our climate.

Protecting the Bud

Palms have evolved to thrive under hurricane winds. However, their best performance comes when left alone! For maximum success it is important to leave brown fronds intact, even when damaged; otherwise they become more vulnerable to damage and encourage rapid growth which may eventually girdle the palm. Furthermore, over-fertilization encourages fungal diseases and it should also be done sparingly as this traps moisture that could otherwise rot away leaving it open to girdling or rotting issues if wrapped tightly; loose wrapping allows moisture escape or leads to rot issues in trunks as tight wrapping can trap moisture leading to either rot or girdling.

Do not prune anything immediately prior to a storm. Pruning deprives plants of energy sources and exposes them to nutritional deficiencies that increase susceptibility to injury during high winds.

If temperatures are expected to dip below freezing, cover tropical plants, palms and trees that don’t fare well in cold temperatures with frost cloth or heavy blankets in order to protect their leaves and buds from being damaged by frost burn. A study of 63 species determined three levels of protection for their buds: those exposed with no bark protection at all; buds at the base of narrow depressions in their bark and those completely covered by bark (Fig 2).