Lessons from Last Hurricane Season: Don’t Wait to Prepare Your Yard

Last year's hurricane season taught me some tough lessons about yard preparation. I thought I was ready, but Mother Nature had other plans. Here's what I learned—sometimes the hard way—so you can avoid my mistakes.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

I have a small backyard. You'd think it would be quick to prepare, right? Wrong! It took me hours to secure everything. Small plant pots became rolling bowling balls in the wind. Every single pot had to come inside—no exceptions.

My corn plants? Completely flattened. There was no saving them after the storm passed through. Those seedlings I'd been babying for weeks? Gone. The hurricane destroyed them all.

Lesson learned: Start preparing your yard early, not when the storm is already on the way.

Trees Take a Real Beating

My beautiful plumeria lost most of its leaves. The wind shredded them like confetti. Heavy branches snapped and fell everywhere.

But my moringa tree story really breaks my heart. This tree was doing so well—full of flowers and developing seed pods. The hurricane knocked it completely over. I'm talking roots in the air, lying flat on its side.

I cut it back and it's growing again, but now it's more like a bush with weak branches. Several have already fallen during our summer thunderstorms. Next storm, I'm trimming my other moringa way back before it hits.

Lesson learned: Take cuttings from plants you can't protect. At least you'll have something to start over with.

Get Your Trees Ready Now

Trim Before Trouble Hits

Clean up your trees before storm season starts. Dead branches become flying weapons during high winds.

In Florida, oak trees worry me the most. They have shallow, wide roots that make them tippy in heavy winds. My husband pruned all the branches hanging over our house earlier this year. Best decision ever.

Can't do the work yourself? Call a certified arborist now. Don't wait until everyone else is scrambling. It costs money upfront, but it saves you from expensive damage later.

Leave Your Palm Trees Alone

Here's something that surprised me: don't trim healthy palm fronds. Palms are smart—they drop their own dead fronds during storms. Only remove fronds that are completely brown.

Plant Smart, Not Sorry

Right Tree, Right Place

Planning to plant new trees? Follow the "right tree, right place" rule. Plant big trees away from your house, power lines, and other buildings.

Some trees handle wind better than others. Sabal palms, crape myrtle, gumbo limbo, and sea grape trees are tough cookies. They bend but don't break as easily.

Plant Trees in Groups

New research shows we should plant trees closer together, not farther apart. Groups of mixed trees protect each other like a team. They create natural windbreaks that shield your whole yard.

Mulch Can Be a Problem

I love mulch for keeping weeds away, but the wrong kind becomes dangerous during storms. Rock and gravel mulch turn into tiny missiles flying around your yard. Not fun!

I use 2-3 inches of Florimulch instead. It's made from melaleuca trees (those invasive ones in our wetlands). This mulch stays put better than other types I've tried.

Protect Our Water Systems

Don't spread fertilizer before a storm hits. It just washes away and pollutes our waterways. Florida even bans fertilizer during rainy season for this reason.

Keep storm drains clear too. Don't blow leaves or grass clippings into them. Make sure your gutters are attached tight and point away from your house.

When the Storm Warning Comes

Once you know a hurricane is heading your way, move fast:

Secure Everything That Can Move

• Container plants and hanging baskets
• Patio furniture and yard art
• Garbage cans and toys
• Bird feeders and wind chimes
• Anything else that isn't nailed down

Can't move heavy plants? Lay them flat on the ground.

Handle Your Water Systems

• Turn off irrigation systems (your plants will get plenty of rain!)
• Move empty rain barrels to safety
• If rain barrels are connected to gutters, disconnect them
• Fill partially full rain barrels to the top so they won't blow away

The Bottom Line

Hurricane preparation isn't glamorous, but it works. Every hour you spend getting ready saves you days of cleanup and heartbreak later.

Don't be like me last year—scrambling at the last minute and losing plants I'd worked hard to grow. Start your prep work now, while the weather is calm.

Your future self will thank you when the next storm rolls through and your yard is still standing.

Quick Prep Checklist:

• [ ] Trim dead branches from trees
• [ ] Take cuttings from favorite plants
• [ ] Switch to wind-resistant mulch
• [ ] Clear storm drains and gutters
• [ ] Make a list of items to secure when storm warnings come
• [ ] Know where you'll move plants and furniture

Remember: It's better to over-prepare than to under-prepare. Your yard—and your stress level—will be better for it.