June 1st starts the beginning of our hurricane season here in South Florida so preparations should be made to our landscapes to minimize any damage to our homes in the event of a storm.Following a season with the fewest number of hurricanes since 1982, the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to follow suit as a below-normal hurricane season. With roughly 10 named tropical storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes predicted for the Atlantic Basin this season, AccuWeather.com’s long-range forecasting team anticipates two storms, either tropical storms or hurricanes, to make landfall in the United States. The onset of El Niño, a short-term phenomenon associated with above-normal water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, may alter weather patterns across the globe. At some point this summer, El Niño will likely increase wind shear across portions of the Atlantic basin and thus suppress the development of tropical storms this season. “If we have a robust El Niño develop, then the numbers will be much lower and this could be one of the least active years in recent memory,” AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said. However, most storms and the best potential for landfall will be on the horizon for the basin during the heart of hurricane season, which occurs later in the summer and into fall, in the months of August, September and October.
With the above being said, we should check all our trees for damaged, disease, weak branches and prune or remove if necessary. Trim back all branch limbs away from buildings. Remove all coconuts & brown fronds in palms. Thin out shade trees to allow air to flow through it in a storm. Trees that are not thinned out and left full are more susceptible to being blown over in a storm. It is best recommended that you hire a ISA certified arborist for an evaluation of your trees & to perform these tree services.
WHAT TO PLANT Annuals: Plants that can survive full sun and the summer heat include portulaca, vinca, celosia and some coleus Palms & Trees: Summer’s rainy & warm weather is the perfect time to plant trees & palms Herbs: Plant loving herbs to plant include basil, ginger, summer savory, cumin, and rosemary
WHAT TO DO Pests: Gardens should be monitored weekly for harmful insects. Knowing which insects attack a plant can aid in its identification as well as its control.
If you need help regarding your landscaping, we at Garden Services are fully licensed & insured to handle all your irrigation, landscaping, lawn maintenance and tree service needs whether it’s a residential, commercial or homeowner association property. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email me and I’ll be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Special thanks to UF/IFAS extension for some helpful information provided in this post.