What You Need to Know About Trees Ahead of Hurricane Season

Published on May 14, 2025

By Rick Warner, City Arborist

“How should I prepare my trees for Hurricane Season?”

This is one of the most common questions homeowners ask. The good news is the answer is relatively straightforward.

The best way to prepare is to become familiar with the trees on your property. A basic understanding of the species, structural strengths and weaknesses, proximity to potential targets, and their likelihood of failure or causing damage is key to managing risk effectively.

Long-Term Tree Care vs. Quick Fixes

For years, the tree service industry has used Hurricane Season as a means to generate business, often times using fear as a sales tactic. But he truth is, preparing trees for hurricanes is something that occurs over the course of time, rather than a quick fix.

Proper tree maintenance, particularly in mature hardwood/shade trees, is an ongoing process that takes shape over the course of many years. Pruning can be done at any time of year- you don’t have to wait until hurricane season.

I like to use the analogy of comparing tree maintenance to a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. If someone wants to be strong and healthy, they must take care of themselves. You can’t neglect your mind and body for a majority of your life and then all of a sudden expect a week of eating right and exercising to make you “healthy.” Good health is the cumulative effect of good habits. Your trees are no different.

Establishing Trust with a Tree Service

One of the most important things that you can do as the owner of trees is to establish a relationship with a local tree service company that you trust. We are fortunate here in the City of Dunedin to have a number of high-quality tree service companies based in North Pinellas County. Do your research, talk to a few of them and see which one you like the most. Price is one factor, but not the only factor.

 You should hire someone who prescribes work that makes sense to you. A good tree professional will educate you about your trees and explain the reasons for the recommended work. It’s their duty to earn your business and your trust. Be wary of someone who immediately recommends removal of your trees. While there are times a complete removal is warranted, it’s a rare occurrence.

The fact that the tree service market is so competitive works in your favor as a homeowner. You have many choices, and you deserve to be informed and ultimately hire a company that has a vision for your trees. Not only for the first pruning session but for the rest of the tree’s life.

Understanding Tree Failures

Proper pruning is critically important. We’ve all seen examples of catastrophic damage as the result of tree failure on the news over the years. These examples are real, and in many case, the failures could’ve been predicted or at least identified as potential risks.

One common cause of failure is something called co-dominant failure, which is a fairly obvious structural deficiency that can be easily identified by an experienced ISA Certified Arborist. There are other factors that can be identified such as over-pruning and improper pruning. Certain trees have general inherent strengths and weaknesses as well.

Routine Maintenance

Once a mature tree is established and has been deemed to have good overall structure, the only routine maintenance typically required is the removal of dead and dying limbs. Make sure you maintain a minimum distance of 4 to 6 feet between the tree and your home or nearby structures. It’s also a good idea to elevate the tree canopy enough to allow people to walk under it. This makes maintenance easier for those who care for the lawn and surrounding property.

Support from the City

Remember, you can always reach out to your local municipal arborist, whose first priority is public safety. You can expect an honest, unbiased opinion on the best course of action moving forward. It’s also important to keep in mind that while we’ve been thorough many storms and hurricane seasons, we still have many beautiful, majestic trees throughout our city.

The reality is that catastrophic damage due to tree failures is relatively rare in the grand scheme of things. Don’t be scared, be prepared!

Contact City Arborist Rick Warner at Richard.Warner@Dunedin.gov for further information or assistance.