South Florida Trees and Hurricanes

[gatorcane]

I think nurserymen have reported a high interest in palms lately, if that tells you anything. That in spite of all the northeasterners who are moving down and demading more traditional temperate shade landscapes (what's the point of living in Flahrida?)

Yes, I'd have to agree. Northerners come down and plant things that don't naturally grow here. The Cuban Royal palm is a great choice for the Southern 1/3 of the state of FL. Also coconut palms along the beaches work well too. Banyan trees are very sturdy.

[HeatherAKC]

From what I understand, there are 2 types of Ficus.

The first has roots on the surface of the ground. These topple easily.

The second roots deep into the ground and destroys your plumbing.

They make a great, green large tree canopy, but both have their downfalls. (No pun intended)

[Extremeweatherguy]

Native trees are much better in weaker storms, but once a strong Cat. 4 or 5 makes landfall...everything goes. I was in Cozumel a few days ago and nearly every tree on the island is snapped and downed (and these are their natural local trees we are talking about). Also, nearly every palm on the island is now either newly planted (after the storm), downed, bent, or is being roped up (by many ropes).

[JPmia]

This is a good topic because a great amount of home damage comes from falling limbs and whole trees on the roof. Here is decent site on this topic:

http://www.broward.org/environment/stormscape.htm

I am sure there are many others. I recall the sound of a Norfolk Island Pine tree's branches falling on my roof in Wilma...scary as hell but luckily no damage. From my observation after Wilma and other storms, the Live Oak trees survived quite well if maintained appropriately; Sabal Palms as well. I don't think any trees are suited for Cat 4-5 storms. In those winds, all or almost all limbs and leaves are removed leaving mostly the base or trunk of the tree.

[gatorcane]

Thanks for the site.

I've noticed that in SE FL the trees are generally stronger an not as tall as those in SW FL (like in Naples). I think this is due to the fact that there is more wind and tropical storms that affect this area throughout the year.

Have you noticed this?

[JPmia]

Thanks for the site.

I've noticed that in SE FL the trees are generally stronger an not as tall as those in SW FL (like in Naples). I think this is due to the fact that there is more wind and tropical storms that affect this area throughout the year.

Have you noticed this?

Yes. I think that has more to do with how we initially developed South Florida from 1920-1980. During this period we allowed developers to clear entire sections of land and replace with smaller trees or even no trees at all; and yes some hurricanes added to the problem. I imagine there were plenty of old and tall trees on our side, but urban development did not spair them until recently. Now, most large trees (except invasives) are protected or mitigated with additional trees when development occurs. Also, most people don't realize that even if hurricanes destroy trees on a property (especially commercial) they must be replaced up to what was required at the time of the property's development.

[ericinmia]

The tree of all trees....

Dade county pine!

Ask an southern builder about that, its was the holly grail of building. Its so strong and dense that saws were throw sparks as it cut the tree. Builders remove the pine from old buildings before tearing them down to sell it. Notice how many VERY old homes in dade county have survived from the 30's-40's-50's. Sadly we have cut almost all of it down.
-Eric

[gatorcane]

The tree of all trees....

Dade county pine!

Ask an southern builder about that, its was the holly grail of building. Its so strong and dense that saws were throw sparks as it cut the tree. Builders remove the pine from old buildings before tearing them down to sell it. Notice how many VERY old homes in dade county have survived from the 30's-40's-50's. Sadly we have cut almost all of it down.
-Eric

I can't believe developers down here. So the reason why SW FL seems to be more "lush" with taller trees is due to the developers? Wow. Well, I think some of it has to do with the climate over here. It's only about 90 minutes across the state from Naples to Ft. Lauderdale but I would bet the winds are higher on avg over here (due to the ocean) and there are more storms that come through.

[MiamiensisWx]

I can't believe developers down here. So the reason why SW FL seems to be more "lush" with taller trees is due to the developers? Wow. Well, I think some of it has to do with the climate over here. It's only about 90 minutes across the state from Naples to Ft. Lauderdale but I would bet the winds are higher on avg over here (due to the ocean) and there are more storms that come through.

Actually, much of the barrier islands on the southwest Florida coast are rather low, hot, and scrubby in some spots. I think it has to do with that they have dominant salt marshes and mangrove swamps.

[TheShrimper]

Yes, I forgot about the overlooked Slash Pine. ie. Dade County Pine. They will lose some limbs during canes, but other than that they remain unscathed. We have 40 undeveloped acres where I work comprised of native pines, Ausralians, Oaks and of course palmetto's and cabbage palms. After the canes of the past two years, for every 100 Australians that were either snapped or uprooted, I would say 2 or three slash pines were a total loss. We had a 100 year old Live Oak, 5 ft. diameter that was uprooted 90% durring Charley and lost. The other oaks were so mutilated, they still have yet to recover and probably never will. Every sabal palm remained intact, even ones in open fields with a bulls eye on them. The pines in S Fla. are extremely durable. On the occasion of land clearing, some old stumps are discovered and unearthed. The wood never rots due to the turpentine, sap which remains intact. If you break of a piece and light it, it is virtually impossible to put out. Here, on Pine Island, it is refered to as lighter knot. Dont know whether that term is known over there in Dade. TheShrimper.

[docjoe]

I renovated a house in an old section of Mobile that was built in 1888. It was framed in heartpine and 4x4 and 6x6 cypress. At the time i worked on it there was no sign of damage or damage repair even though the area had multiple storms (1906, 1916, 1926, camille, frederic, and others) They certainly dont build them like they used to.

docjoe

[terstorm1012]

The tree of all trees....

Dade county pine!

Ask an southern builder about that, its was the holly grail of building. Its so strong and dense that saws were throw sparks as it cut the tree. Builders remove the pine from old buildings before tearing them down to sell it. Notice how many VERY old homes in dade county have survived from the 30's-40's-50's. Sadly we have cut almost all of it down.
-Eric

My grandma's childhood home in Key West is built out of that stuff.

It's been standing since her family came here from the Bahamas in 1880

[weatherwindow]

The tree of all trees....

Dade county pine!

Ask an southern builder about that, its was the holly grail of building. Its so strong and dense that saws were throw sparks as it cut the tree. Builders remove the pine from old buildings before tearing them down to sell it. Notice how many VERY old homes in dade county have survived from the 30's-40's-50's. Sadly we have cut almost all of it down.
-Eric

My grandma's childhood home in Key West is built out of that stuff.

It's been standing since her family came here from the Bahamas in 1880

..once it dries and ages, it is virtually indestructible...i have a shotgun house on grinnell in kw...all tongue and groove dade county pine. it has survived virtually intact since 1876. too hard even for the termites ....rich

[njoynit]

Rita took 2 of my cedars(one which currently looks like a cedar palm...If i'd had a tall enough ladder @ christmas...I would have lit that sucker up)Its referd to as the cedar palm. I lost 5 whole trees, some others are snapped in half.Most my tops in oaks are snapped with other branches on the way downward. We lost lots of trees in our county,plus we're a logging county anyway.so you see double the log trucks& clean up crews now who ain't too bright.(you gotta watch um too,they sneaky) I live in woods was pretty heavily wooded,but things& areas got thinned.Chase paper leases the woods behind me.they have 186 acres of white pine?long leafed.most are still standing some insect damaged trees(leaf beetles?or some kind of beetle) the replanted ones they harvest are about 10 yrs old.the spots that got blown over were where they did sysmic surveying about 3 yrs ago(all them ground booms musta loosed the area)I watched trees twisting in the sky like feather dusters& some had limbs the size of entire trees land in their houses. My SIL got roof damage from rita,repaired it& then January the house burned completely to the ground cause of flue damage to the chimmney that was not detected.
I would have been thrilled if lost my hickory tree...or even the branch thats been broke forever on it.It stood firm.or them 2 trashy elm trees.I'm stuck with those too.

[Patrick99]

I think nurserymen have reported a high interest in palms lately, if that tells you anything. That in spite of all the northeasterners who are moving down and demading more traditional temperate shade landscapes (what's the point of living in Flahrida?)

Yes, I'd have to agree. Northerners come down and plant things that don't naturally grow here. The Cuban Royal palm is a great choice for the Southern 1/3 of the state of FL. Also coconut palms along the beaches work well too. Banyan trees are very sturdy.

Banyan trees are great - very stately, great looking trees and provide a ton of shade. Plus, they are strong. Going back to Andrew, I've not seen a banyan tree have trouble with a hurricane. They might drop a few branches, but I've not seen a big one toppled.

The Florida pine also deals reasonably well in hurricanes. Some in South Dade did get snapped in two during Andrew, but many still stood. It's ridiculous that we've cut down so much pineland. We should be planting Florida Pine at every opportunity. It's a great tree, and amazing wood, as others have attested.

You know what other trees are great hurricane-resistant trees.....mangroves. The entire South Florida shoreline SHOULD be buffered by vast mangrove stands, not vast stands of high-rise condos, hotels, and McMansions. We have (had) more than adequate natural defense here, but the developers ruined it. Overdevelopment has ruined South Florida in so many ways...it turns my stomach to think of it.

[weatherwindow]

amen, patrick....we still run our boats into the mangroves up the keys and tie them off...safer than most marinas....rich

[T'Bonz]

Mohagony are brittle and snap apart in pieces...
Palms (may stand) but die from their hearts being knocked off....
-Eric

Exactly what happened to my one mahogany tree (took 3 hurricanes to topple it though) and two palms.

I now have a live oak and a red maple, courtesy of the free trees from the county program.

We're just replanting new things in the front, just in time for THIS season.

[JPmia]

Mohagony are brittle and snap apart in pieces...
Palms (may stand) but die from their hearts being knocked off....
-Eric

Exactly what happened to my one mahogany tree (took 3 hurricanes to topple it though) and two palms.

I now have a live oak and a red maple, courtesy of the free trees from the county program.

We're just replanting new things in the front, just in time for THIS season.

I had to replant a tree in my swale 4 times last year. Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. My neighbors thought I would eventually give up on the tree, but no it is still there. I hope the damn thing is finally rooted into the ground.

[richtrav]

Hmm, the banyans had the living tar beat out of them by Andrew. I remember going to the Homestead area in the spring of '93, there used to be these gloriously giant banyans by the road, and while few of them were completely toppled, many of them had been trimmed back to basically the main trunks which came out of the ground. And I remember all those snapped pines, there were lots of pines that were still standing but quite dead

[gatorcane]

You know what other trees are great hurricane-resistant trees.....mangroves. The entire South Florida shoreline SHOULD be buffered by vast mangrove stands, not vast stands of high-rise condos, hotels, and McMansions. We have (had) more than adequate natural defense here, but the developers ruined it. Overdevelopment has ruined South Florida in so many ways...it turns my stomach to think of it.

Patrick yes I agree. Banyans and Mangroves are excellent choices but with condos backing right up to the beach, it's difficult