Hurricane season is around the corner. What should you do to prepare your property for a hurricane?

For some people, early fall means fireplaces, marshmallows, and warm sweaters. Though plenty of Floridians enjoy these fall staples too, we also spend much of our late summer preparing for the ultimate Florida fall staple: hurricane season. Whether you’re new to the Sunshine State (warning: the nickname isn’t as applicable during the month of September) or have weathered your fair share of Florida hurricanes, it’s critical to understand how to keep your property protected in the face of a hurricane. So much of the damage that occurs to property landscapes during a hurricane could have been mitigated by proactive property care. Today, we’re gonna help you see what that looks like – and give you tips on how to make the most of it for your own property. Let’s get started.

Know What to Look For

The most important thing you can do to prepare your property for a hurricane is to inspect it for any weak spots or decay that could cause major damage in hurricane-level winds. This summer, do a thorough sweep of your property and be on the lookout for:

Mushrooms growing around the roots of your trees. Fungal growth is a major indicator of root decay, which in turn indicates that the stability of the tree has been seriously compromised. Trust us: you don’t want that to go unchecked when a hurricane hits.
An absence of birds or bugs on or around a particular tree, bush, or shrub. If smaller critters are avoiding something on your property, it’s a sign that there could be significant decay.
One or two dead branches in a tree could be normal (though it’s always good to get a professional opinion if you spot them). More than that, though, is a surefire sign that you need to have someone take a closer look at your tree.
The colors of the leaves are off. Florida doesn’t see too much of a change in leaves, anyway; that said, your tree’s leaves shouldn’t be browning and falling in the summer. If they are, consider it a sign that your tree could be in decay.

Even if you don’t notice any of these red flags, it’s still very important to have your trees pruned before hurricane season in order to prevent decay and promote stability.

Check Your Pipes & Drains

There’s plenty that you can and should do to be proactive and take good care of your property leading up to a hurricane. That said, there is a small handful of things that you’ll need to do once a storm is on the move. This includes:

Moving any yard furniture or decorations indoors.
Cleaning off items like acorns and large seeds from your trees and yard to make sure they don’t become hazardous in hurricane winds.
Check your gutters to make sure they’re clear.
Make sure no shingles are loose on your roof.

Call in a Professional Property Maintenance Company

The most effective way to prepare your property for a hurricane is to be proactive about getting professional property maintenance services now, while there’s plenty of time to take care of any issues that may arise. Whether that suspicious tree ends up needing to be fully removed or you get standard tree pruning, professional landscaping services are your property’s first defense against exterior hurricane damage. Calling in a company you trust can save you time, money, and a ton of property work in the aftermath of a hurricane.

The best thing you can do to prepare your property for a hurricane is to start doing it now. Don’t wait until early hurricane season, when everyone else is scrambling to take precautions, too. Be proactive about keeping your property safe with professional property maintenance services you can trust. If you’d like to get a free quote on your property maintenance visit, don’t hesitate to click here.