Hurricane-season landscaping: what survives, what fails, what to move
Wind, salt and saturated soil decide which plants make it through a Tampa Bay storm season. Here's how we plan for it.
Storm damage in Tampa Bay landscapes is rarely random. The same handful of mistakes show up on every street after a big blow.
Shallow-rooted, fast-growing trees planted too close to the house are the first casualties. Native and Florida-friendly species — live oak, sabal palm, southern magnolia — hold far better than brittle fast growers.
Palms handle wind better than almost anything else, which is why they dominate coastal planting. Keep them properly hydrated and avoid over-pruning; stripping fronds weakens the crown instead of protecting it.
Saturated soil is the quieter problem. A tree that would have held in dry ground tips over when the root plate is floating. Drainage work is storm protection.
Loose material becomes projectiles. Heavy river rock beds near screen enclosures and windows are a liability; mulch and low planting are not.
After a storm, get standing water off root zones fast and re-stake anything leaning within the first week. Wait longer and the root plate sets crooked.
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