60-Second Storm Prep Audit

Most hurricane tree damage is predictable — and most of it is preventable. The trees that fail in storms almost always show warning signs months earlier. A 5-minute pre-season yard walk catches the major issues at a fraction of the post-storm cost.

Want the interactive version? Try our live storm-prep audit at /storm-prep — it scores your readiness as you check boxes. For the static checklist version, read on.

The 5-minute pre-season walk

• Look up at every mature tree. Any visibly dead limbs over 3 inches? Schedule deadwood pruning.
• Walk around every mature tree. Any new lean (compare against a fixed point like a fence line)? Get a professional opinion.
• Inspect the base of every mature tree. Any fungal conks, oozing wounds, or visible decay? Same-week call.
• Look for trees with co-dominant stems (V-shaped main crotches). These are storm-vulnerable; cabling or removal candidates.
• Note any trees within fall-distance of structures, power lines, or active areas — these are your priority list.

Species risk profiles

Some species are inherently storm-vulnerable. If you have any of these near a structure you care about, they deserve closer attention:

• Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) — top of the failure list every named storm. Replacement candidate.
• Water oak (Quercus nigra) — fast-grown, brittle, prone to trunk failure. Inspect annually.
• Washingtonia palm (Washingtonia robusta) — too tall for most lots, lightning magnet, topping risk.
• Laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) — better than water oak but worse than live oak; inspect for decay.
• Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) — invasive AND structurally weak. Remove.

When to schedule pre-storm structural pruning

Late summer — typically August — is the best window. The tree has had its spring growth, the structural pattern is set, and you have a clear three months to next storm season. Aim for ANSI A300 structural pruning (selective thinning to reduce sail area, end-weight reduction, no topping). A pre-storm trim done right is one of the few interventions that meaningfully reduces storm damage risk.