Restoring Landscape Plants Damaged by
Hurricane Ike
Dr. William M. Johnson, County Extension Agent-Horticulture
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Galveston County Office
5115 Highway 3
Dickinson, Texas 77539
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My mature oak tree withstood a thrashing
from Hurricane Ike. You can readily see through it now. Will it
survive the damage?
Many large trees lost a substantial
number of leaves due to the winds. The high winds of strong
hurricanes will strip the foliage from trees. Do not immediately cut
down trees whose foliage has been striped away by high winds.
Despite their ragged appearance, most will recover. Provided there
is little other damage (such as major limb breakages, broken bark,
etc.) and the tree was in good health, it should leaf out again by
next spring and be just fine. However, if they do not produce new
growth in the spring, they should be removed.
I have repositioned my landscape trees
that were leaning after Hurricane Ike? Should I stake these trees?
A lot of gardeners have made an effort
to reposition small trees and shrubs that were leaning after the
Hurricane Ike. Young trees will need to be staked if they are wobbly
to prevent the next big gust of wind from blowing them over. For
smaller shrubs and plants, it may be easier to dig them up and
replant them than try to stake them upright. |
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Newly reset trees will need to be supported until they reestablish a
strong, new root system. This can be done with stakes or guy lines
depending on the size of the tree and the situation. Leave the support
in place for about 9 to 12 months.
Limited pruning may be done at the time of resetting to remove damaged
branches and to lighten the weight of the canopy, but do not prune
excessively. It is generally not practical to straighten larger, more
mature trees that have blown over.
In
most cases, broken roots were exposed to the air. With no significant
rainfall since the hurricane, these shrubs or trees will have to be
watered to help them reestablish. Pay attention to the soil moisture
level of reestablished plants over the next several months and irrigate
during dry weather.
What is the overall prospect for flooded annuals and perennials
recovering after Ike?
I would have to answer your questions with: It depends! While mature
healthy trees stand an excellent chance of recovering, tender annuals
and perennials that were flooded will have a more difficult time but may
also survive.
 The hibiscus flower in the photo provides a classic situation. I was
driving in San Leon and noticed a five-foot tall hibiscus plant along
the roadside. The leaves had been fried from the salty storm surge
waters along the coast line. Yet, there was the single bloom depicted in
the photo taken 21 days after Hurricane Ike. Just as impressive was the
sprouting of green leaves.
Another key indicator is to use your thumbnail to scratch back the outer
layer of tissue on woody stems or branches. Soft green wood indicates
that the plant is still alive and there is still hope. Ultimately, the
removal of any plant will be a judgment call but unless you have a
merciless neighborhood association on your case, I advise patience.
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This web site is maintained
by Master Gardener Laura Bellmore, under the direction of William M.
Johnson, Ph.D., County Extension Agent-Horticulture & Master Gardener
Program Coordinator.
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digital photographs are the property of the Galveston County Master
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