OCTOBER 2024
This month we are beginning our liquid fertilizer, insecticide and pre and post emergence weed control applications. Please remember you must allow 21-days for the full results of the weed control to take full effect.
On a different note, while the majority of us escaped with little to no damage from Hurricane Helene, there are some who experienced downed trees and debris from the high wind gusts. Even with that, it was nothing compared to what many of our fellow Floridians are now recovering from. Indeed, we are beyond blessed that we came through relatively unscathed. As a native Floridian I have experienced, and witnessed, many hurricanes in my 57 years, but the damage from Helene was so much more widespread than I remember from past storms. My heart breaks for the ones who have lost their homes, businesses, or worse. It is going to take a long time for those effected. With that, this is the time to go over what to expect in your lawn and what you can do should we have to deal with another one this season or in the future.
High winds, extended rains and flooding of our lawns and landscapes during a hurricane can be detrimental. The surge of salt and river water brought inland, the salt air, high winds and excessive rain and/or flooding wreaks havoc on turf-grasses, trees and plantings. In the past I received numerous calls from our clients asking what you can do to help your lawn and landscape recover. If you receive saltwater flooding, promptly watering/flushing your grass with fresh water is probably the single most important thing to do. This helps to rinse the salt from the grass blades, as well as to leach it past the roots. Raising your mower’s cutting height a notch to help the turf regenerate a stronger root system will aid in recovery as well. The good news is Bermuda, Zoysia and St. Augustine grass have good salinity tolerance, so while you may see the blades have a burnt appearance, given time, your lawn will most likely recover. In a nutshell, while the burnt appearance is unsightly, it is often cosmetic and the root system is most likely fine.
As for your shrubs, as soon as possible remove any debris covering them, such as tree branches and/or debris from neighboring structures. You may find that the foliage of thin-leaved species appears burned or that your shrubs have been stripped of its foliage. The good news is that wind damage is generally superficial and they are most likely still alive. Given the proper amount of time, they should recover. Remove any broken branches and leave the rest. If they receive any saltwater flooding, irrigate the plants generously with fresh water to dilute the salt and to leach it deeper into the soil away from the root zone.
If the pre-hurricane rain you receive saturates the soil well enough, any salt water flooding you received will be less likely to penetrate and contaminate the soil. Flood waters carry silt and debris which is deposited on lower growing plants such as shrubs, ground covers, annuals and perennials. It is important to remove these materials as soon as possible. Use a rake to remove most of the larger material, and then a hose with a nozzle attached to wash off the remainder. Whether they receive flooding, wind damage or both, wait until next spring to determine if your shrubs will survive. Branches that do not leaf back out, or produce new growth with the rest of the shrub, should then be considered dead and then be pruned.
Damaged annuals are generally not worth salvaging, so simply pull them up and compost them. Until you have the time to replant, apply several inches of mulch to those areas to prevent weed growth. As for perennials, they will generally recover even if their foliage was shredded by the wind. Simply prune off any badly damaged growth and give them time—you will most likely find they will re-sprout.
Many larger trees that receive wind damage but remain up right can be salvaged depending on how much damage the canopy receives. The species of the tree is also a key factor. Just like with the shrubs, don’t be concerned if the tree is stripped of its foliage – as that is merely cosmetic damage and will grow back. Focus more on the damage done to the branch structure. Loss of, or severe damage to, most of the main branches likely means the tree should be removed. This is particularly true for brittle wood species such as pecan, pine and maple. Trees that only lose secondary branches and few or no major branches can generally be pruned and saved. If you are confused, contact a licensed arborist to help you determine the extent of your damage and what needs to be done to remedy the damage. It is well worth the money to consult a licensed specialist when it comes to saving one of your most expensive landscape features.
