How to Prepare Your Trees for Hurricane Season in Orlando, FL

Living in Orlando, Florida means enjoying beautiful, mature trees — and also preparing for hurricane season every year. When a major storm rolls through Central Florida, trees are often the first casualties and the most common cause of property damage.

The good news: proper tree maintenance before storm season dramatically reduces your risk. Here's what every Orlando homeowner should know.

Why Tree Preparation Matters in Central Florida

Central Florida sits squarely in Florida's hurricane and tropical storm belt. Even storms that don't make direct landfall near Orlando can produce damaging wind gusts of 50–75 mph or higher. At those speeds, a structurally compromised tree becomes a missile aimed at your home, car, or family.

Insurance claims related to tree damage cost Florida homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars annually. And critically: if a tree on your property was a documented hazard before the storm — and you failed to address it — your insurer may deny your claim.

Before Storm Season: Your Annual Tree Checklist

Ideally, get a professional tree assessment each spring — before June 1. Here's what to evaluate:

• Walk your property and look for dead branches, leaning trees, or signs of decay (covered in detail in our 7 Warning Signs guide)
• Check trees near your home, car, fence, and power lines — these pose the highest risk if they fail
• Assess root zones — recently disturbed soil, construction damage, or standing water can weaken root systems
• Schedule professional pruning for any large trees with overextended branches or unbalanced canopies
• Remove high-risk trees before the season rather than paying emergency rates after a storm

Proper Pruning for Storm Resistance

One of the most important things you can do before storm season is have your large trees properly pruned. But improper pruning can actually make a tree more vulnerable — so this isn't a DIY project for large trees.

What professional storm-prep pruning involves:

• Crown thinning — selectively removing branches to reduce wind resistance while preserving the tree's structure. This is the single most effective preparation for wind events.
• Dead wood removal — eliminating branches that are already dead or dying and will fail in any strong wind
• Raising the crown — removing lower branches to reduce sail area and improve wind flow under the tree
• Removing co-dominant stems — addressing weak V-shaped unions between major branches before they split

Which Trees Should Be Removed Before Storm Season?

Not every tree needs pruning — some need removal. In Orlando, prioritize removal for:

• Trees with more than 50% dead canopy
• Trees with significant trunk decay or hollow sections
• Trees that have already started leaning or show root failure
• Dead trees of any size — a dead tree is a guaranteed fall waiting to happen
• Large trees within falling distance of your home (typically 1–1.5x the tree height)
• Laurel oaks — notoriously prone to decay and failure; one of the most common damage-causers in Florida storms

After the Storm: What To Do (and What NOT To Do)

Immediately after:

• Stay indoors until the storm has fully passed — wind gusts continue after the eye wall moves through
• Do not approach downed trees near power lines. Assume any downed line is live and call your utility company
• Document all damage with photos and video before any cleanup begins (important for insurance)
• Call your homeowner's insurance company to report the damage

When calling a tree company after a storm:

• Be wary of "storm chaser" companies from out of state — they appear after major storms, often overcharge, and may not be licensed in Florida
• Always verify the company is licensed and insured before agreeing to work
• Get a written estimate even in emergency situations
• For trees on structures — coordinate with your insurance adjuster before full removal if possible

Trees and Homeowner's Insurance in Florida

Here's how tree claims typically work in Florida:

• Tree falls on your home: Your homeowner's insurance typically covers removal and structural repair (minus your deductible)
• Tree falls in your yard only: Most policies don't cover removal unless it's blocking access to the home
• Neighbor's tree falls on your property: Usually covered by your insurance, not your neighbor's — unless negligence can be proven (i.e., they ignored documented warnings about a hazardous tree)
• Pre-existing hazard you ignored: If an insurer can demonstrate you knew about a hazardous tree and didn't act, they may deny your claim

The bottom line: proactive tree care is not just safety — it's protecting your financial interests. Call us at 863-356-7534 before storm season for a free property assessment and any needed pruning or removal.