Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and Southwest Florida sits squarely in its path. Recent seasons have made it very clear how much of the damage in a storm comes from the yard — branches, fronds, loose objects, and debris turned into projectiles by the wind.
The good news is that yard prep is some of the most effective storm prep you can do, and almost all of it is better done now, in the calm part of spring, than in the scramble when a storm is already on the cone. Here's a practical checklist for a Southwest Florida property.
Trim trees and palms — the right way
The biggest wind risk in most yards is the trees. Dead, weak, or crossing branches are the first things to come down, and a healthy canopy that's been thinned slightly lets wind pass through instead of catching it like a sail.
A few specifics for our region:
- Remove dead and damaged wood. Dead branches and weak limbs should come out well before a storm — they're the most likely to break and fly.
- Thin, don't top. Selectively thinning a canopy helps; topping a tree by cutting the main leaders back hard creates weak regrowth and actually makes it more dangerous over time.
- Don't hurricane-cut your palms. Stripping a palm down to a few upright fronds is a common sight, but horticulturists discourage it. Over-pruned palms are weaker, not stronger — the fronds help the palm ride out wind, and removing them stresses the tree. Take off only dead or fully brown fronds, plus loose seed pods and coconuts that could become projectiles.
- Do the big work early. Major tree work is best handled in late spring, before the season ramps up — both so the tree has time to settle and so you're not competing for a crew when a storm is approaching.
Deal with anything that can fly
In a hurricane, anything loose in the yard is a potential projectile. Walk the property and make a plan for every loose object now, so that when a warning is issued you only need to act, not decide:
- Potted plants, patio furniture, grills, umbrellas, garden decor, and yard tools should each have a place to go indoors or in a garage.
- Lightweight mulch can blow out of beds and even break windows. For beds close to the house and windows, some homeowners switch to rock or a heavier mulch; at minimum, know that fresh lightweight mulch is something to account for.
- Check fences, gates, and shade sails — anything that can come loose and catch wind.
Make sure the yard drains
Southwest Florida storms bring enormous amounts of rain, and standing water around the house causes its own damage. Before the season:
- Clear gutters, downspouts, and drains so water has somewhere to go.
- Check that swales and low spots aren't blocked by debris or overgrowth.
- Make sure irrigation is in good shape and the controller can be shut off easily — you don't want sprinklers running during a flood.
Plan the debris, before and after
Yard debris timing matters more than people realize. If a storm is days away, that is not the time to pile branches and trimmings at the curb — loose debris that won't be collected in time just becomes more projectiles. Do your trimming early in the season so the debris is long gone before any storm.
It's also worth photographing your landscaping and trees now, while everything is intact. If you do take damage, dated before photos make an insurance claim far easier. And have a plan for the cleanup afterward — debris haul-off and a full property reset are a lot to handle alone after a major storm.