June 1 is the start of another hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30. Many of us have learned lessons from recent storms Irma and Matthew. Now is a good time to start preparing, because once a storm is on the way it may be too late to take action.
Homeowners should be prepared to be off the grid with enough essential supplies to last at least five days. There are also preparations that can be made to help mitigate damage caused by falling trees and broken limbs during strong storms, including hurricanes. Inspect your yard for tree limbs that overhang your roof and for trees that are diseased, dying or damaged.
Special attention should be given to trees that have a target, such as your bedroom or your car. Research has shown that some tree species are less resistant to wind than others. Additional factors can also affect tree failure: age, health, site conditions and how the tree was cared for, including pruning.
Some trees have an expected life span and present a risk once they are over-mature. For example, laurel oaks are expected to live only about 50 years. This fact coupled with studies by the University of Florida that have shown laurel oaks to be poor survivors of hurricane force winds could help a homeowner make a decision to remove trees at or near the end of their lives.
In contrast, live oaks have strong wood and a long life expectancy and are considered a good tree for hurricane-prone areas. That isn’t to say that all live oaks are equal. Some may have internal defects that would need to be inspected by a certified arborist with tree risk assessment certification. In general, palms can handle hurricane force winds better than trees, but not all palms survive as well. Native sabal palms and Canary Island palms survive the best in Florida, while queen palms are poor survivors.
Site conditions can be a major contributing factor to tree failure during storms. Trees that have grown in an area with poor drainage or a high water table may have shallower roots and can topple over due to a lack of friction when soils become saturated and high winds are present. Construction activities, such as sidewalks that cut supporting roots, can make trees unstable during a storm. Areas with restricted root growth, such as medians and parking lot islands, do not allow enough space for tree roots to properly anchor and can also contribute to failures.
Cultural practices, including improper pruning or a lack of preventative pruning, can create trees that have defects, such as co-dominant leaders where instead of a single main trunk at the top it has two or more main leaders equal in size. This creates a condition where included bark forms an internal defect in which the tree is weakened at the union, which often leads to tree failure. In a young tree, co-dominant leaders can easily be corrected, but this becomes more difficult and dangerous to correct as the tree matures.
Improper pruning, such as topping, creates a tree that doesn’t have a well-defined central leader and may have internal decay from poor healing. This is also true when a branch isn’t properly removed — poor healing can create a point of entry for decay, which can later lead to tree failure.
It's important to recognize the difference between a tree care professional and a certified arborist. Tree work can be very dangerous. Tree care professionals can handle simpler jobs. These include taking down trees without obstructions and removing dead or hazardous limbs. More technical work should be done by International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborists. This includes removing leaning trees, removing limbs that could damage something if they fall, jobs requiring climbing and pruning for restoration or tree health.
Ask to see proof of insurance for property damage, workers' compensation and personal liability. If you hire an uninsured company or individual, you could be held responsible for costs related to any injuries that occur while the work is being done. Always get a written estimate and shop around. Keep in mind that quality tree work requires specialized equipment and training. Money you save in the short term may cost more over time due to poor tree health or liability.
Sol Looker is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator at the Flagler County Extension Service, University of Florida. For more information contact the office, 386-437-7464. The Extension Service is at 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell, Florida 32110.