One can easily spend thousands of dollars installing storm shutters, roof reinforcements or drainage improvements on the exterior of a house, believing that it is strongly fortified against the next hurricane. But none of those modifications can prevent a weak-rooted or brittle tree from slamming through the rafters, and rendering all your investments futile.
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In storm zones, hurricane resistant landscaping is of equal importance to house protection, because extreme weather could be just one low-pressure system away. But while it may take years to mature, an intelligently designed yard can actually enhance the protection of the structures on it, and limit the damage done.
A 1994 study by Louisiana State University, which was funded by grants received after Hurricane Andrew, was the first to distinguish between "victim" and "survivor" trees after major hurricanes. In addition to withstanding storms and quickly regenerating, survivor trees often protected structures near them.
The study found that survivor trees had tapered trunks, a low center of gravity and well-developed, deep root systems. The classic example would be the live oak. News footage from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina revealed that they were often the only thing left standing and minus the storm surge, the giant oaks might have protected the houses around them.
Victim trees, on the hand, have a high center of gravity, are weighted down by dense canopies or have shallow root systems. Some palms and many pines are often felled by high winds and water saturation.
The study also stressed the importance of landscape design and maintenance. Shrub wind buffers can protect utilities and structures, while retention basins can collect storm water. Dense canopy trees should be thinned every year and vegetation near utility lines and roof edges should be pruned.
Ashley Turner, a landscape designer at Planted Earth Landscaping in Santa Rosa Beach, said the best vegetation is what is on a lot is cleared for construction.
Turner said homeowners should try to "clear carefully and try to maintain as much native planting as possible."
Turner recommends resilient ornamental shrubs such as chaste tree, bottlebrush, oleander and buddleia. She also stressed the importance of hosing down plants and vegetation after a storm to try to remove salt and sand.