You Can Rest Easy When You Partner With Your Local U.S. Lawns To Prepare Your Landscape For The Stormy Season
Although we’ve all heard the age-old saying “April showers bring May flowers,” we also know the storms don’t end with spring’s transition into the summer–especially if you live along a coastal area prone to hurricanes. Even though there is no way to control Mother Nature, there are ways you can prepare your landscape to survive the stormy season with minimal damages, and your local U.S. Lawns is here to see that the job is done right.
It All Begins With A Storm-Resistant Landscape Design
So, let’s start at the very foundation. While structures are built to withstand strong winds and heavy downpours, it is as important to design the surrounding landscape to stand up, too. After all, most often the damage caused to buildings, vehicles, and the landscape itself comes from landscaping elements that were unable to weather the storm.
Plan For Flood Conditions
There are a multitude of creative ways you can design your landscape so it will be both beautiful and resistant to hurricane force winds and flood conditions, beginning with the installation of a swale (a shallow channel with gently sloping sides), a ponding area or an alternate drainage solution appropriate for handling any excess water.
Choose The Right Trees, Shrubs And Grasses
Trees are another concern to address; not only do they have the ability to cause extreme damage when they break or are uprooted; they can also be costly to replace. This is the reason you’ll see so many palms on Florida landscapes; they may lose fronds in high winds, but they’ll grow back–and you may find it interesting to know that while people commonly refer to them as palm trees, palms are actually a variety of grass, which has something to do with their endurance.
Besides palms though, there are many trees that are better suited to storm-prone areas, such as live oaks, cypress trees, red cedars, pines and silver maples, to name just a few. Here are a few helpful tips for designing your landscape:
- Account for tree height and circumference at maturity so you can make sure you’re giving it the space it will ultimately require.
- Understand what the root system will need to achieve optimal health; some roots grow deeply, and others will spread out, so that can make a difference on how you plant them as well as how much room they’ll need. This is important in planning a storm-resistant landscape but can also impact paved areas and other hardscape elements too.
- Avoid planting too close to buildings, sidewalks, retaining walls, and where they could block important views to mitigate risks and also give trees the proper space to grow and flourish.
Utilize A Blend Of Plants, Shrubs And Grasses With Different Tolerances
When it comes to flowers, shrubs and grasses, plant a mixture–some that can tolerate periods of drought; some that thrive in moist conditions; and some that can endure a bit of both. This is where strategic landscape planning really comes into play, since plants all have different requirements to grow and thrive and the knowledge of a professional is indispensable.
One approach savvy landscape designers take is to choose a variety of plants with the expectation that some will be replaced regularly, while others will be there for the long term. In addition to creating a landscape that will come through the stormy season with minimal damage, this offers the advantage of maintaining fresh curb appeal throughout the seasons.
Regular Trimming And Pruning Is A Must
Now that we’ve talked a bit about designing a storm-resistant landscape, let’s cover storm and hurricane preparedness basics for both newer and well-established landscapes.
Even though keeping bushes and trees properly pruned and trimmed should be included in every landscape maintenance plan, it is an absolute must in regions where major storms are a regular occurrence, whether that be in the form of a severe thunderstorm, a hurricane or even a winter storm.
Keeping your trees and other plantings healthy and well-maintained enables them to better withstand a storm surge, and they will also have a shorter recovery period than they would if they were poorly maintained.
We may say it frequently, but this is an opportune time to say it again: a healthy landscape is much more resistant to pests, disease, and yes, even storm damage.
Other Steps To Prepare Your Landscape For A Storm
To wrap things up, there are a few other steps you can take to prepare your landscape when there is a storm on the horizon.
- Manually shut off the irrigation system, which is crucial since uprooted trees have been known to break irrigation lines, which leads to wasted water while intensifying flood conditions. Don’t rely on your smart system to manage itself, either. Handle this one manually, just to be certain.
- Move all potted plants inside and secure or store furniture, outdoor décor and any other items that could become dangerous projectiles in the wind.
- Ensure gutters, storm drains and swales are clear of leaves and debris, that downspouts are pointed away from buildings, and that water has a clear path to drainage points.
Trust Your Landscape Management To U.S. Lawns Through Every Season
With so much to attend to, why not trust your landscape management to U.S. Lawns? Then you can focus on the rest of your job with the confidence that we’re attending to every little detail through every season, and your grounds will be best prepared to survive the stormy season long before it arrives. Get in touch with us now to find out more!