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Weathering the storm: dealing with plant damage

Wayne Hobbs
Posted 9/20/17

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With Hurricane Irma passing through and possible other tropical systems affecting our area this hurricane season as well as those in the future, it is important to know how to …

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Weathering the storm: dealing with plant damage


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With Hurricane Irma passing through and possible other tropical systems affecting our area this hurricane season as well as those in the future, it is important to know how to deal with the damage in their wake.

Through proper preparation and response, you can work to minimize the risk and damage. Here are some tips on how to deal with the aftermath of storm damage in your landscape.

Flooding – One of the major damaging factors of a storm system is the amount of flooding it generates. Whether it is from a nearby waterway overflowing its banks or localized flash flooding, these conditions can cause plant health issues. One key point is to potentially avoid eating produce that has been in a flood condition as the water can carry bacteria, chemicals and other potential health hazards from other areas and deposit them on your plants.

Some plants can do better having their roots submerged but prolonged flooding can cause the roots to not be able to access oxygen causing dieback and making them more susceptible to diseases and rot. If your landscape stays water logged for a long period of time, observe how the plant responds as the soil dries out to see if any damage was done.

Wind Damage – With tropical storm and hurricane force winds, damage to trees, shrubs and plants is unavoidable. By following a proper pruning schedule and managing the health of your plants, effects can be limited and plants that are suited to the Northeast Florida landscape will continue to thrive.

Before doing any landscape work, make sure to check for major hazards. Damaged, hanging limbs in the trees, downed power lines, or flooded areas should be avoided. Any trees that pose a hazard to life or property should be addressed by a licensed and insured ISA Certified arborist and they can be a great resource to assess damage and potentially keep the trees healthy moving forward.

If you have tree damage you can manage on your own, it is important to prune following the storm as any part of the stem or branch remaining on the tree that is split or snapped can be a prime entry point for insects and disease. Prune these branches back to the collar, which is the point where the branch meets a healthy part of the plant or tree and make a clean cut. The tree will work to heal itself.

One item to note is do not prune palm fronds in preparation for hurricanes. The practice of cutting all but a few young fronds on the tree harms the plant by taking away the stored food inside of the leaves and University of Florida research has shown that a healthy palm frond will not normally become a projectile during a hurricane. In fact, pruned palms have higher damage levels.

Lightning – In the event of a lightning strike, the damage to plants or trees can be severe. A lightning damaged plant will most likely lose its health and vigor and potentially die. If struck, a tree should be irrigated to stop from drying out as the lightning damages the trees’ ability to move water to its leaves. Even if the tree survives, long term issues will often develop and the tree should be monitored to make sure it does not become a hazard.

If you have any more questions about storm damage and the landscape or any other lawn or landscape questions or issues, contact the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Office by phone at (904)284-6355. For a listing of our current classes being offered, visit clayextension.eventbrite.com.