Planning for and recovery from high wind damage to tropical fruit trees in the home landscape Dr. Jonathan H. Crane, Tropical Fruit Crop Specialist University of Florida, IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center Homestead, Florida

Background We have noted after strong wind events and hurricanes that those fruit trees kept relatively small with an open canopy remain upright with less limb breakage than non-pruned or neglected trees that are tall (large) with a dense canopy. We have noted after strong wind events and hurricanes that those fruit trees kept relatively small with an open canopy remain upright with less limb breakage than non-pruned or neglected trees that are tall (large) with a dense canopy. Fruit trees should be pruned annually: Fruit trees should be pruned annually: Remove dead, diseased, and damaged wood. Take out water sprouts. Remove crossed branches back to their origin (crotch). Remove small branches that clutter the center of the tree. Selectively remove (thin out, drop crotch) limbs to limit tree height and spread, and to reduce canopy wind resistance.

Recommended maximum tree heights for tropical fruit trees in the home landscape Tree Height (ft) Tree Avocado* Carambola Mango* Guava 3 – 10 Mamey sapote* Sugar apple Lychee* Atemoya 8 – 12 Longan* Jackfruit Sapodilla* *, may be easily maintained at ft.

Planning prior to hurricane season Survey your landscape for the location of all trees and determine: Survey your landscape for the location of all trees and determine: Those that may need to be pruned to reduce height and/or width and that need canopy thinning to reduce canopy wind resistance. The idea is to prune trees to allow the wind to move through the canopy, not push the tree over. Those that may need to be pruned to reduce height and/or width and that need canopy thinning to reduce canopy wind resistance. The idea is to prune trees to allow the wind to move through the canopy, not push the tree over. Have large fruit trees selectively pruned to 20 to 25 feet in height or less and the canopy thinned to allow wind movement through the canopy. We recommend you hire an arborist to prune very large trees. Be sure they are licensed and have insurance. Have large fruit trees selectively pruned to 20 to 25 feet in height or less and the canopy thinned to allow wind movement through the canopy. We recommend you hire an arborist to prune very large trees. Be sure they are licensed and have insurance.

Planning prior to hurricane season Take photographs of your landscape prior to strong wind and hurricane events to document the location, size, and state of tree health. Place a person in the photograph for size comparison. Take photographs of your landscape prior to strong wind and hurricane events to document the location, size, and state of tree health. Place a person in the photograph for size comparison. If an arborist and/or landscape company has pruned your trees, keep all receipts for documentation. If an arborist and/or landscape company has pruned your trees, keep all receipts for documentation.

Planning prior to hurricane season If practical have on hand: If practical have on hand: Chain saw plus fuel Chain saw plus fuel Hand saw(s) Hand saw(s) Digging bar Digging bar Gloves, goggles Gloves, goggles Pick axe Pick axe First aid kit First aid kit Whitewash: Either white latex paint or powdered lime and zinc oxide. Mix latex paint and water at 1:1 or 1:2 or to make your own whitewash, mix 1lb lime and 11/2 oz. zinc oxide per gallon of water. Whitewash: Either white latex paint or powdered lime and zinc oxide. Mix latex paint and water at 1:1 or 1:2 or to make your own whitewash, mix 1lb lime and 11/2 oz. zinc oxide per gallon of water.

Tree recovery after the storm Take pictures of each tree to document the damage. Take pictures of each tree to document the damage. Caution: Homeowners with tropical fruit trees in their home landscape should be very cautious about trying to stand up large trees. When large trees are pruned, they sometimes move quickly in unpredictable directions which can be extremely dangerous. You may want to have a professional assist you or do the pruning or resetting for you. Caution: Homeowners with tropical fruit trees in their home landscape should be very cautious about trying to stand up large trees. When large trees are pruned, they sometimes move quickly in unpredictable directions which can be extremely dangerous. You may want to have a professional assist you or do the pruning or resetting for you.

Tree toppling – note part of the root system remains in the ground

The tree trunk and major limbs are now exposed to intense sunlight (heat). The heat stress damages or kills the living tissues underneath the bark. The damaged parts of the tree trunk and limbs then dry out, crack, and decay, leaving a weak tree. Man, I’m getting hot here! It’s killing me.

Tree recovery after the storm Fallen (toppled) trees with some root system remaining in the ground Shade the sun exposed trunk and major limbs by either Shade the sun exposed trunk and major limbs by either Using broken or pruned limbs that have foliage or Using broken or pruned limbs that have foliage or Painting the exposed surfaces with a 1:1 or 1:2 latex paint:water mixture or Painting the exposed surfaces with a 1:1 or 1:2 latex paint:water mixture or Painting the exposed surface with white wash (1 lb lime + 11/2 oz. zinc oxide in 1 gallon water). Painting the exposed surface with white wash (1 lb lime + 11/2 oz. zinc oxide in 1 gallon water).

Ahh…that’s cooler. White wash Foliage You got that right. We have it made in the shade.

Tree recovery after the storm Fallen (toppled) trees with some root system remaining in the ground Pull back the soil from the base of the tree outward so that when the tree is stood up it sets in the ground at the same (or nearly the same) height prior to tipping over.

Tree recovery after the storm Fallen (toppled) trees with some root system remaining in the ground For really large trees, i.e., massive trunk and or height and spread, we recommend hiring a certified arborist and/or landscape company to prune the tree back and stand up the tree with a backhoe or tractor. For really large trees, i.e., massive trunk and or height and spread, we recommend hiring a certified arborist and/or landscape company to prune the tree back and stand up the tree with a backhoe or tractor. For medium and small trees (trees you feel you can handle), selectively remove most of the top. This will a) reduce the weight of what is left of the tree to stand up and b) if leaves are present, reduce the water loss (transpiration) and potential drought stress of the fallen tree. For medium and small trees (trees you feel you can handle), selectively remove most of the top. This will a) reduce the weight of what is left of the tree to stand up and b) if leaves are present, reduce the water loss (transpiration) and potential drought stress of the fallen tree.

Tree recovery after the storm Fallen (toppled) trees with some root system remaining in the ground Caution: When removing (pruning) back large limbs to reduce the tree size – the tree may move upward quickly and in an unpredictable direction. No one should be near the backside of the root system. Note: You may need to cut some severely broken roots.

Tree recovery after the storm Fallen (toppled) trees with some root system remaining in the ground Slowly pull the tree to an upright position. Use only cloth or rope slings to pull trees up – never use wire cable because if it snaps it may cause bodily harm! Prop up the tree with forked limbs cut from the downed tree. Push the excavated soil back over The root system. Water the tree in very well.

Tree recovery after the storm We recommend that: a) you remove the fruit (we have noted trees with fruit declined more rapidly and many died compared to trees with no fruit and; b) that you strongly consider removing 1/3 to ½ the canopy to reduce the water demand on a damaged and reduced root system. This can be done by selectively removing some limbs. Standing trees that have leaves but clearly were wind stressed – minor limb damage, twisting, some leaf loss – may also have some root damage. If you see leaves begin to wilt and/or turn brown and/or drop, the tree has some root damage. = selective pruning cuts

Watering for tree recovery For those trees standing or have fallen over but have only a few leaves, do not remove all the leaves; if the trees has a lot of leaves remove 1/3 to 1/2 the canopy to reduce tree water loss. For those trees standing or have fallen over but have only a few leaves, do not remove all the leaves; if the trees has a lot of leaves remove 1/3 to 1/2 the canopy to reduce tree water loss. Trees with few leaves or NO leaves, once the tree has been reset (stood up), water the tree in well. However, after doing this, limit watering the tree with no leaves because over watering may cause rotting of the roots. You can begin to water more often once you see new growth beginning to emerge (usually 2-3 weeks after the trees have been defoliated) Trees with few leaves or NO leaves, once the tree has been reset (stood up), water the tree in well. However, after doing this, limit watering the tree with no leaves because over watering may cause rotting of the roots. You can begin to water more often once you see new growth beginning to emerge (usually 2-3 weeks after the trees have been defoliated) Trees with a lot of leaves may be watered normally. For trees with some canopy removed to reduce the amount of leaves, reduce the amount of water but water frequently. Trees with a lot of leaves may be watered normally. For trees with some canopy removed to reduce the amount of leaves, reduce the amount of water but water frequently.

Fertilization for tree recovery Trees still standing with few to no leaves or with some of the leaves cut off by pruning - reduce the amount of fertilizer by the percent canopy not present (e.g., if half the leaves are gone, reduce the rate by 50%). However, as the new leaves begin to come out, use small amounts of fertilizer frequently. Trees still standing with few to no leaves or with some of the leaves cut off by pruning - reduce the amount of fertilizer by the percent canopy not present (e.g., if half the leaves are gone, reduce the rate by 50%). However, as the new leaves begin to come out, use small amounts of fertilizer frequently. Trees still standing with leaves may be fertilized normally. Trees still standing with leaves may be fertilized normally. Trees that fell over and are now stood up (reset): if no leaves, wait a few weeks until you see new leaves beginning to develop, then fertilize frequently with small amounts of fertilizer. Trees that fell over and are now stood up (reset): if no leaves, wait a few weeks until you see new leaves beginning to develop, then fertilize frequently with small amounts of fertilizer.

Recovered tree

Credits Author – Dr. Jonathan H. Crane, Tropical Fruit Crops Specialist Author – Dr. Jonathan H. Crane, Tropical Fruit Crops Specialist This presentation is copyrighted, 2005 University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences This presentation is copyrighted, 2005 University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences