Plant Damage From Hurricane Ian

The damage done to the whole of Florida at the hands of Hurricane Ian will be felt for a while. With an estimated 41 billion dollars of damage at least done to property, some suspect the number may be closer to 70 billion. The combination of severe flooding and high winds creates a recipe for disaster, and our local area took the brunt of the storm. Many reports have described the area to be in shambles, but we will not let this get us down. Although your landscape may be severely damaged from the storm, you are not down for the count. We want to help you get your Lee County property back into shape. We will start with addressing how to deal with plant damage from Hurricane Ian.

Inspect your Property

Although we are sure you are already taking a look around to ensure your insurance claims are comprehensive, you might not be thinking about your plant material. This is understandable, as there are many more essential and expensive items to take care of. However, do not forget about plant material, because damage and death can be claimed or noted, as your landscape is a key factor in the determination of your property value. So, first things first is to document and take photographs of any damage to plant material, small or large.

Safety First: Large Plants and Trees

Before looking out for those pieces of plant material that may be salvageable, you want to look for the ones that will not be. These are the trees that pose an immediate threat to you and your property. If trees are leaning over with root systems pulling out of the soil and significant damage to foliage, remove them.

Saving Plant Material

Some trees and shrubs will be able to be saved, which is great news. If plants are relatively undamaged, but simply pulled out of the ground, cover their roots. Use burlap sacks or soil to cover up root systems until they can be replanted. Additionally, plants that are still in the ground may have experienced damage that cannot be seen. The addition of extra soil and water can fill up the pockets created around the roots when winds push the plant back and forth. Mulch should also be removed from the base of plants, as it prevents the excess moisture from evaporating. Last but certainly not least, you can prune off any damaged or dead foliage that came as a result of the storm. However, wait to prune any material that is still alive. If you take these steps you should be able to salvage as much of your plant material as possible.

Replant Your Plants

While the aforementioned actions can be taken immediately, there is more to do once saltwater is mostly drained from your property. Now that the flood waters have subsided, it is time to begin recovering your soil so that your plants can be returned to their rightful place in your landscape. Your property needs to be irrigated with fresh water at the earliest availability to cleanse your soil of contaminants left behind by the saltwater. Furthermore, the plants that you have been protecting can be replanted into this freshly irrigated soil and taken care of like normal.

For more information on how Estate Landscaping can take care of your landscaping needs, give us a call at (239) 498-1187, or send us an email at info@estatelandscaping.com.