Safe, Efficient, Minimal
Living in Pensacola, Florida means enjoying beautiful weather and lush trees—but it also means preparing for hurricane season every year. One of the most overlooked aspects of hurricane preparedness is taking care of your trees before a storm hits. At Holston Tree Service, we specialize in hurricane tree prep in Pensacola, helping homeowners and property managers minimize storm damage through expert tree pruning, risk assessments, and proactive care.
If you’re searching for storm damage tree care in Florida or wondering what steps to take to safeguard your trees before the next big storm, this guide is for you.
Why Hurricane Tree Prep Matters in Pensacola
Pensacola’s location on the Gulf Coast makes it vulnerable to hurricanes, tropical storms, and high-wind events. Trees can become serious liabilities during these storms—causing property damage, blocking roads, taking down power lines, or worse, injuring people.
Although no tree can be fully predictable….proper maintenance will significantly reduce the risk of damage or injury.
Common Tree Hazards During Hurricanes
Understanding what makes a tree dangerous during a storm can help you take appropriate action. Here are some common tree-related issues that can escalate during hurricane conditions:
- Overgrown limbs hanging over your roof or driveway
- Dead or decaying branches ready to snap
- Trees with shallow or compromised root systems
- Leaning or unbalanced trees
- Multiple trunks with weak attachment points
- Branches near power lines
The best way to identify and mitigate these risks is through a professional inspection and professional tree pruning before hurricane season arrives.
Best Practices for Hurricane Tree Prep
Here are the most effective steps to prepare your trees before a hurricane:
1. Schedule a Tree Health & Risk Assessment
A certified arborist can evaluate the health and structural integrity of your trees. They’ll check for decay, pest damage, root problems, and structural imbalances that might lead to failure during a storm.
Tree risk assessments are the foundation of smart storm prep and help prioritize which trees need immediate attention.
2. Trim Trees Before Hurricane Season
Tree pruning before a hurricane is one of the most important steps you can take. Tree pruning:
- Removes dead or weak branches
- Reduces wind resistance by thinning the canopy
- Prevents branches from hitting your home, car, or power lines
- Improves overall tree structure for better storm endurance
3. Remove Hazardous Trees
Some trees are simply too far gone to be saved. Dead, severely damaged, or dangerously leaning trees should be removed before they become storm missiles. Hurricane winds can easily topple weakened trees, causing major damage.
At Holston Tree Service, we can help you identify trees that should be removed and handle the process safely, including stump grinding and debris cleanup.
4. Clear Debris and Loose Limbs
Before a storm hits, make sure your property is free from fallen branches, brush piles, and yard waste. These can become projectiles in strong winds, damaging structures and endangering people.
We provide pre-storm debris clearing as part of our storm preparation services.
When to Schedule Hurricane Tree Prep
The best time to start is well before hurricane season begins—ideally in early spring. However, if a storm is approaching and you haven’t had your trees inspected, it’s not too late. Even last-minute pruning or removal of critical hazards can make a big difference.
In Pensacola, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak months being August and September. Don’t wait until there’s a storm in the forecast to take action.
What NOT to Do
While it’s important to prepare your trees for hurricanes, certain actions can do more harm than good:
- Avoid Topping Trees: This outdated method of cutting back all branches severely weakens trees and increases the risk of storm failure.
- Don’t Over-Prune: Removing too many branches or foliage can stress the tree and reduce its stability.
- Don’t DIY Large Tree Removal: Removing large trees or limbs without the proper tools and training is dangerous and could lead to injury or property damage.
Always hire experienced professionals with the right equipment and safety practices.
After the Storm: Storm Damage Tree Care in Florida
Once the storm passes, it’s important to assess your trees for damage. Look for:
- Hanging or cracked limbs
- Uprooted or leaning trees
- Splits in the trunk
- Bark damage or loss
Even trees that look okay from the outside may have internal issues or root problems. Our team can provide post-storm tree inspections, emergency removals, and cleanup services to restore safety to your property.
Need help after a storm? Visit our storm preparation services page for full details.
Additional Resources
For a deeper dive into hurricane wind safety and how trees respond to high winds, check out this informative guide from the University of Florida:
Hurricane Wind and Tree Safety – UF IFAS Extension
Choose Holston Tree Service for Hurricane Tree Prep in Pensacola
At Holston Tree Service, we understand the unique challenges that Gulf Coast homeowners face during hurricane season. We’ve helped countless property owners in Pensacola and surrounding areas prepare their trees and landscapes for storms.
Whether you need a one-time storm prep or seasonal tree pruning, we provide reliable, affordable, and expert hurricane tree prep in Pensacola.
Licensed & Insured
Don’t wait until the next storm is on the radar. Contact Holston Tree Service today to schedule your tree pruning before a hurricane or a full storm prep consultation.
Call us now or request a quote on our website to get started.
Mike Holston & Amanda Holston are the husband-and-wife team behind Holston Tree Service, serving Pensacola and Northwest Florida with expert tree removal, trimming, and storm cleanup.
Mike oversees operations and customer care, while Amanda is ISA TRAQ-Certified and an ISA Certified Arborist, bringing specialized training in Tree Risk Assessment and advanced pruning prescription plans to every project.
Proudly serving Pensacola, Cantonment, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Molino, Jay, and Pace with certified tree care and 24/7 emergency service.
