Hurricane Prep for Homes: Palm Trees & Coconut Trees

This is our third and final article in our series ‘Home Hurricane Preparedness’.

In our first article we discussed the general areas of your home you should assess before the hurricane season. In our second article, we focused in more on garden preparation in particular. For this article, we are still on the topic of preparing your garden for a hurricane however we’re looking at palm trees and coconut trees in particular!

Coconut trees and palm trees can make for a picturesque view in your commercial or residential property. However, these trees can pose a risk during storms and strong winds.

Being aware of the weather forecast along with ensuring you schedule in maintenance visits for your trees is vital.

Below are some of the main areas of the tree that should be maintained or assessed, especially before a storm.

Learn more at the end of this article about 5 Star’s landscaping services, including our urgent help service for any fallen trees or debris that needs to be cleared.

Inspect Palm Trees:

This includes looking out for any pests, areas of the tree that may be struturally compromised or any diseases.

Coconut Tree/Palms Safety:

Check the coconut trees & palms, removing any overhanging branches and/or harvesting coconuts that may pose risk during strong storm force winds

Supporting Trunks:

Taller palm or coconut trees may benefit from having braces or methods to help support it (e.g. tree straps or stakes to stablize it) to prevent the tree from falling over or the  trunk from curving.

Mulching and Root Protection:

Adding mulch around the palm and coconut trees are great for helping to retain mosture. It’s also good for soil stabilzation. However, it is important not to pile up mulch right by the tree trunk as this may lead to rotting of the tree in some areas.

Pruning Fronds:

When trimming the fronds (part of the palms), it’s best to only trim the damaged or dead ones to prevent putting extra streess on the tree.

Regular Maintenance:

Regular maintenance checks throughout the year are important to keep trees healthy, but this is especially vital during the hurricane season.

View the information below to schedule your maintenance visit with 5 Star.

Get in touch

We hope this article has given you greater insight into preparing your palm trees and coconut trees properly for a storm.

For more information on our landscaping services at 5 Star, visit here.

However, we know things can happen during storms with trees and they may fall over or cause damage to properties. We have a dedicated urgent helpline for any emergencies including fallen trees or damage to structures. For more information on our urgent help service, visit here.

This is our second article in our series ‘Home Hurricane Preparedness’. In our first article we discussed the general areas of your home you should assess before the hurricane season. In this article, we will focus in more on garden preparation in particular. Strong gusts of wind during storms can cause plants and other objects in your garden to be swept away, posing risk. Below are some areas we suggest you assess and things to do in and aorund your garden before a storm comes.

View end of article to find out more about 5 Star’s Landscaping Service.

Plant Maintenance:

As mentioned in the 1st article plant maintenance including trimming dead branches from trees and shrubs is important during hurricane season to help reduce the amount of branches that may fall or be swept away by the wind. Staking and fastening taller plants to avoid them bending is also vital as it can help  increase the durability of a plant.

Harvest and Store:

Harvesting fruits before a storm, especially coconuts (which have hard shells and can be  heavy), prevent them from becoming a risk in terms of flying into cars houses. Storing produce in a safe place will also help prevent damage to your crops, for those who do farming.

Potted Plants:

It’s good to have space in your shed or inside to also store any potted plants. These ceramic plant pots could fall over and smash if left outside during a storm and the shards could also pose a risk. 

Mulching and Soil Stabilization:

It can be useful to add some mulch to your garden to help prevent soil erosion. Sandbags may also aid in securing soil in spots where it may be more likely to erode during a storm.

Irrigation Systems:

Make sure you are aware of how to turn your irrigation systems and sprinklers on and off, and ensure these are off during heavy rainfall to avoid your plants being overwatered.

Get in touch

We hope this article has given you a better feel of the key areas of your garden you should be asessing and scheduling landscaping & lawncare visits when doing your hurricane preparation. At 5Star, we have a team of trained professionals that can assist you with all of your landscaping needs:

• Garden cleanup
• Irrigation & drainage
• Planting & removal
• Urgent help
• And more…

For more information click here.