Hurricane Ian Damages Local Trees

More than a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall, destroying trees and landscaping, the effects are still becoming evident in the brown color of plants and leaves. If you observe local plants and flora, you’ll notice that many trees and leaves are dry and dying long after surviving the violent storm. Leaves changing colors like this would be typical in colder regions during the fall however Florida is an exception to this.

This is a common occurrence after weather events like Hurricane Ian, and it is known as wind desiccation, or weather damage. The symptoms of weather damage are similar to the symptoms caused by pests, disease, or a nutrient deficiency and sometimes these symptoms take weeks or even months to show up in a plant. The reason Florida plants are drying up and changing color is because of the conditions brought on by Hurricane Ian. The hurricane facilitated high winds, heavy rain, and flooding which all took part in plants browning and losing their buds, flowers, and leaves. 

Windy weather specifically causes the leaves to dry out and turn brown in color. High winds move lots of things around during a major storm event like Ian. These winds can often carry salt water from coastal areas and push them inland. Salt water carried by the wind can coat the leaves of a cypress tree, causing them to turn brown and eventually drop off. The hurricane's high winds and surging salt water may have likely resulted in salt burns on the foliage. 

Hurricane Ian reached maximum wind speeds of 155 mph. For comparison, most wind desiccation and weather damage occurs at wind speeds above 30 miles per hour. Strong enough winds can shred leaves, tear off flowers, break branches, and uproot shrubs and trees, leaving plants susceptible to further damage from insects and disease. 

After plants and trees that pose as obstacles are removed and the choice to remove or restore the weather damaged trees must be made, it is important to consider factors such as the tree’s health, species, size, age, structure, and the degree of damage. These factors determine what trees should be removed and which ones can be restored. With the frequency of hurricanes during season it is important to ensure the survival of Florida’s plants and trees.