Managing Tree Stress After Flood, Frost, & Drought

Tree care and management is more essential now than ever before due to weather impacts over the last two years. Arborists are warning these effects drastically increase the likelihood of tree failure. With proper tree care and maintenance, these risks can be prevented.

Floridians are all too familiar with the hustle that comes with hurricane season. The past couple of years has presented central Florida with a trifecta of events – severe hurricanes, freezing temperatures, and extreme drought. This year greets us with a new unknown for which we all need to prepare. Inspections and risk management need to happen now before heavy rains or storms impact the already stressed trees.

We all remember the first event – severe flooding from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. It wasn’t just the wind and rain we normally experience with storms, but the surprise that happened weeks after as the waterways crested. Water rose above mailboxes and threatened homes and businesses days and weeks after Milton had passed. A little over a year after Milton, we saw another unprecedented event - freezing temperatures in November! It was an early warning sign of the harshest winter on record for central Florida with over $3 billion worth of crop losses and devastating effects to the landscape. As farmers and homeowners assessed the frost damage and started the recovery process, the third event settled in – extreme drought for nearly 73% of the state. Drought is something people may not expect in Florida, but it comes with impacts like wildfires, water shortages, and tree stress. News outlets have been loud with their warnings about the burn bans and water restrictions, but what about the trees that have been affected by all these events? Unfortunately, the worst may not be over yet.

With the first event, trees were saturated from flooding which affects the way trees grow mostly due to root suffocation. We soon saw the indicators including leaf decline and crown dieback. Next, frost damaged the trees further with increased signs of canopy dieback and bark curling. Enter the third and perhaps worst event, the trees are now being severely impacted by drought stress. We are starting to see uprooting and leaning trees presenting significant risk to homes and businesses. Extreme drought for trees is risky on its own. As the third in a series of unfortunate events, it can be devastating. Root and trunk inspections are essential as unexpected splits and/or root flares indicate the structural integrity of the tree is compromised.

Our ISA Certified Arborist can provide homeowners, property managers, and businesses with comprehensive tree evaluations to help mitigate risk. Don’t wait for the wind to decide which trees will fall, give Omega a call!