Chapter 4—Restoring Trees after a Hurricane

Edward F. Gilman and Traci Partin


Abstract

This fact sheet provides a step-by-step guide for restoring trees after a hurricane or wind storm so that trees can bring beauty and shade back to the community with reduced risk. Various factors determine the period of time necessary for recovery of storm-damaged trees: tree age and health, size, species, and extent of damage. These factors are interrelated, and together determine the amount of care a tree will need after a storm. Restoration typically requires more than one pruning to develop strong tree structure and may last from two to five years or perhaps much longer for large and severely damaged mature trees.

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Footnotes

1. This document is ENH 1054, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department (Urban Forest Hurricane Recovery Program series), UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date August 2007. Reviewed February 2017. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Edward F. Gilman, professor; and Traci Partin, horticultural information specialist; Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.