One of the most important steps homeowners can take to minimize potential damage during a hurricane is to maintain trees properly, recommends the Florida Forest Service.

During a storm, overgrown or neglected trees can become tangled in utility lines leading to power outages. Weak branches and leftover fruits can turn into projectiles causing serious damage to people and property. Trees themselves can blow over if their roots are too shallow for our climate or if the tree is diseased or damaged.

Below are some tree hazards that are to be addressed, if they have not been already:

• Branches: Inspect the branches on all trees in your property. If there are any twisted, dead or broken limbs, remove them to minimize waste post hurricane.

• Staked/Braced trees: If the trees had braces installed on them after hurricane Irma, let them remain to be re-evaluated after the hurricane passes.

• Dense canopy: Be cautious in the reduction of branches to prevent stressing the tree.

• Make sure any hanging plants and potted plants are moved indoors and that outdoor furniture/items are secured.

• Each Spring, property owners and renters should check the condition of nearby trees. Be on the lookout for broken branches, dead limbs, root rot, and trunk decay. Also look for trees that grow close to power lines, windows and structures. See additional resources below for more tips on managing your trees during a wind storm.

• Also, consider hiring a licensed tree service company and Certified Arborist. These professionals can provide advice and assistance with quickly removing already damaged or potentially dangerous trees, and they can prune healthy trees to maintain their strength and form, but to allow the wind to pass through easily.

• If you are planting trees in advance of the rainy season, be sure to select the Right Tree for the Right Place to ensure that you plant a tree that can withstand our climate and storms. Select native species when possible. Think about the tree’s mature size and form and be sure to place it so that it does not become a future hazard. By properly planning, caring for and maintaining your trees, you can minimize storm damage, avoid potential safety and utility hazards and ensure a healthy and beautiful landscape.

• Shut down thinning operations that are underway, or scheduled to begin, when a hurricane is projected to make landfall in your area — Thinning operations that open the stand structure can leave the stand more vulnerable to windthrow and damage if the trees have not had time to respond to the new open conditions.

• Do some pruning — Prune trees regularly, especially those over structures and fences, to reduce broken or dead limbs that could cause damage.

• Fill the tanks — Top off tanks and containers containing drinking water, gas, diesel, propane, chain saw fuel, and other materials to ensure availability during post-storm recovery.

• Keep culverts and ditches clean — Open drainages ensure excess storm water doesn’t back up and cause flooding.

• Check emergency equipment — Make sure that all emergency equipment, including generators, chain saws, air compressors, and other tools, is on hand and in good working condition.

• Check communications equipment — Have cell phone chargers in all vehicles and charged backup cell phone batteries. If you have them, ensure that hand-held radios are charged and in good working order.

• Secure hazardous materials — Ensure that hazardous materials are stored safely and shut down gasoline pumps before the storm.

• Lock your gates — Keeping your gates locked will prevent unauthorized individuals from damaging wet roads and reduce liability.

• Take photos—Take photos of your stands and/or fields before the storm so you can have a record of the condition of these areas before damage occurs. This could help with records needed for insurance claims and/or government assistance programs.

• Time for harvest — If in line with your management plan and objectives, consider selling your mature timber stands in a lump sum sale (vs. pay as cut) before hurricane season to capture the full market value of the products you have. A salvage sale of a storm-damaged stand will only yield 10% to 15% of the normal market value.

See “Steps to Marketing Timber,” https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr130, for important considerations for selling your timber. Whether you are working with a consultant to market your timber or doing it yourself, we recommend doing business with qualified, trained loggers that are certified in the Master Logger Program. The Florida Forestry Association provides an online tool to help you find a certified Master Logger in your county at http://floridaforest.org/programs/master-logger/.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than one million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service

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