When hurricane season hits, it’s important to be prepared. A few proactive steps can prevent some of the damage these storms can wreak on your yard. Use the following guide for yard hurricane preparation in Broward County, FL to preserve your surroundings:
- Turn off irrigation: If you have irrigation systems in place, these need to be in the OFF mode before a hurricane hits. During hurricane season, your landscaping should be receiving plenty of moisture from the rains, so you don’t need to worry about plants drying up. Additionally, soils that are saturated make it easier for trees and other plants to uproot. To turn off your irrigation system, use the main shutoff. Do not rely on the rain shutoff mechanism.
- Check your trees and shrubs: Do a quick inspection of your property. Look for potential concerns with your trees and shrubs. Do any of them look unhealthy? Are any branches dangerously close to your home? Are any v-shaped trees posing a hazard if they break? Trim or remove any vegetation that is likely to cause damage when a hurricane arrives.
- Clean up debris: If you realize you need to trim your trees and shrubs, be sure to clean up all debris immediately after this task is complete. Any branches left on the ground can be just as dangerous as if you had not trimmed them. They can easily be lifted by high winds and become dangerous projectiles that damage property or cause injury.
- Shape palm trees appropriately: For healthy yard hurricane preparation in Broward County, FL, don’t forget to prep palm trees. Remove any dead fronds or ones that are broken. However, you don’t need to remove leaves that have brown tips. Be sure to remove fruits and flowers as well, to prevent them from being carried away by the wind. As you prune the tree, the final result should resemble an umbrella. Don’t over-prune, as this can cause damage and disease.
- Replace mulch: Once the storm season is over, you’ll need to replace your mulch. Allow beds to dry out before re-mulching them. Use straw on the edges of beds to keep mulch in place. This is a better solution than some other materials that can trap the water in the bed. You need to allow for appropriate drainage both before and after you lay the mulch.
- Wait to fertilize: If a hurricane is predicted, do not apply fertilizer, even if it would normally be the time of year to do so. When the storm hits, it will wash away the fertilizer, so you will have wasted time and money on the application. The fertilizer can also cause problems as it drains into water bodies or sewers.
- Protect outdoor décor: If you have any patio furniture, outdoor planters or other exterior décor, move them to a sheltered area. If possible, you could put your patio furniture in your pool. Planters can be moved to the garage or, if they’re very large, you can lay them flat and place them close to your foundation.