Landscaping Tips – Preparing For Hurricane Season in New York City

For New Yorkers, hurricane season calls for effectual planning efforts. Preparedness procedures are necessary in order to diminish damage caused by strong winds and heavy rains. Making sure that your landscaping has been properly prepared before a storm blows through the city is a good way to keep you, and those in your community safe.   

 

While securing windows and making sure you have ample emergency supplies are important steps to take when preparing for a storm, remember that the trees and plants surrounding your premises can be destroyed by storms. More importantly, when that landscaping has not been properly managed, it can become the source of dangerous, flying debris which can lead to severe damage to your property or even injury to residents or neighbors.

 

This hurricane season, let us help you avoid unwarranted damage by preparing from the outside in. Using these eight tips, you can prepare your landscaping to help your community safely weather any storm. 

 

Trees can be a major source of destruction during a storm. Trimming any dead limbs or branches that may break and fall in strong winds will keep your property safe. These branches (or other flying debris) can also knock down power lines which is a major hazard. It’s a good idea to contact a professional landscaper to have your branches trimmed in order to avoid losing power due to natural elements interfering with your power lines.

 

Just as tree branches can knock down power lines, branches can also break windows and create holes in roofing or doors. If you have tree limbs that are hazardously close to your building, consult with a landscaping company to discuss methods of pruning trees away from structures. 

 

Tight foliage from thick hardwood trees can be a potential danger to your building as well. If your trees are not “crown-thinned”, they can be lifted out of the ground with heavy and relentless wind. Again, contact your landscaping company to learn more about how to crown-thin your thick foliage. 

 

The gravel many use for plant beds can be sharp and hazardous when whisked into the air by heavy winds. To avoid having solid, flying debris that can litter your property, mulch is recommended in place of gravel. Mulch will also dissolve in heavy rain, further mitigating potential damage.
 

For those who love to garden, there is nothing more devastating than your beautiful blossoms and tasty fruits and vegetables being ravaged by a storm. So, when a storm watch is announced, make sure to retrieve and protect your veggies and flowers from any outdoor garden areas. 

 

Debris in your gutters during a storm is something you definitely want to avoid. Having leaves and branches piling up can lead to your gutters becoming clogged, which is dangerous, especially during a storm with heavy rainfall. Make sure to remove whatever debris you can, as often as you can. Also, you may consider placing screens or guards on your gutters to keep them clean and free of debris year-round. 
 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Speak to a landscaping professional or your property management company for recommendations on how you can prepare your landscaping for hurricane season. These experts will have plenty of insight and experience to share. 

 

Though hurricane season has arrived here along the east coast, there is still time to salvage your building’s landscaping before a forecast storm is named. A great property management company can assist with spearheading these efforts and save your community the risk of considerable devastation in the process. 

 

For more information, contact FirstService Residential, New York’s leading property management company.  

Request our free hurricane guide today! Fill out the form below to receive our guide full of proven tips, checklists and timelines to help your building staff and residents prevent damage and stay safe during hurricane season.

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