Hurricane Season Tree Safety Tips for Tallahassee Homeowners

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and the Big Bend region of North Florida is no stranger to tropical systems. The good news: a few hours of proactive tree work before season starts can dramatically reduce your risk.

Best Timing for Pre-Storm Tree Work

Late April through May is ideal — before the heat of summer, before hurricane season begins, and early enough to let any pruning wounds begin healing before storm stress. Don't wait until a storm is in the Gulf.

What to Prioritize

• Dead wood removal: Dead branches are the first things to come down in wind. Removing them before a storm is far better than cleaning them up after.
• Canopy thinning: Dense canopies catch more wind load. Thinning allows wind to pass through rather than pushing against a solid wall of foliage.
• Weak branch unions: V-shaped crotches with included bark are failure points. These should be addressed before storm season.
• Trees leaning toward structures: If a tree is already concerning in calm weather, get it assessed now — not after a storm.

What NOT to Do

Don't over-trim. Topping trees — cutting all the main branches back to stubs — is not storm preparation. It creates weak regrowth, stresses the tree, and actually makes future storm damage more likely. A good crew thins and removes specific problem branches; they don't shear the canopy.

Schedule Storm Prep Now

Call (850) 331-9189 before the season rush hits. We book up quickly once storm threats materialize.