If you live along or near the coast, such as Gainesville Florida you know that hurricane safety is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to maintaining your home and yard. Several of these gruesome storms can pop up throughout the summer and fall, and when they make landfall, they often destroy almost everything in their paths. You may think that boarding up the windows is enough to protect your property, but there are some other things you can do to your house and landscaping. Here are some preparation tips.
Keep Your Trees Trimmed
So much destruction seems to come from fallen trees and branches, so keeping them in good shape throughout the rest of the year can really make a difference when a storm blows into your area. Dead branches should be removed, as they will be the first to fall when soaked with rain. The same goes for entire trees that are sickly or rotting. They are weaker and more likely to fall during high winds and heavy rains. If you have large branches that dangle over your roof, you may also want to have those removed. Finally, if you have thick foliage, keep it trimmed as well. This allows the wind to blow through and lessens the chance of trees and plants becoming uprooted.
Clean Your Gutters
It is important to keep your gutters clean and clear from debris throughout the year, but if you know a storm is coming, you may want to give them some extra attention. Remove any debris that may be preventing your gutters from draining properly. Afterwards, flush them with a hose to make sure there are no other blockages. You may want to consider installing screens or other types of guards that keep everything but water from getting inside your gutters. While you are cleaning, if you see any holes, bends, rusty spots, or loose joints, make sure to fix them as soon as possible. If you do not clean your gutters, they may fill with water quickly during a storm and can break away from your home and tear up your roof or other parts of your home's structure.
Secure Your Outdoor Furniture and Accessories
If you are like many people, there are a probably a number of items in your yard that can easily be picked up during heavy winds. This might include patio furniture, grills, toys, bicycles, tools, garbage cans, flowerpots, and much more. If they get blown away in a windstorm, they can cause damage to your home, vehicles, and even your body. The best thing to do is to gather them up and bring them indoors or place them on a porch or inside a garage. If you cannot move your outdoor furniture, consider tying it down to something sturdy. If you own a pool, plastic items that will sink can be placed in the water until the storm is over, but be aware that this can damage the lining of your pool if not done carefully.
Prepare Your Gainesville Garden
If you like to grow fruits and vegetables during the summer, a strong storm can leave you disappointed. Your hours of hard work are likely to get pummeled by the wind and rain. If any of your fruits or vegetables are ripe, you should go ahead and pick them before the storm hits. If any of your plants are in pots or are easy to transfer to pots, consider bringing them inside your home. Otherwise, for smaller plants, you can try securing them in the ground by tying them to a stake; just be sure that the stakes are strong, secure, and placed deeply in the ground. You may also consider draping your garden with a blanket or landscape cloth to protect it from the wind.
Prepare Your Pool
Your swimming pool may also need some extra protection from the elements. Start by shocking and chlorinating the pool so that it will not become dirty or contaminated by falling debris. You also need to make sure the water level is normal. Some people try to remove water from their pools to prevent flooding, but this can actually be more harmful than helpful, because the storm can damage and even remove the pool from the ground. The water works as a weight. If you are worried about flooding, check your pool's deck by spraying a hose and making sure there are no drainage issues. If you have toys, furniture, umbrellas, or flowerpots around your pool, move them inside. Finally, you may want to turn off the power to your pool's pump. If you are able to, disconnect the pump and move it to higher ground so that it does not get flooded.
Hurricanes are made up of strong winds and heavy rains. The winds can cause any unstable items in your yard, such as patio furniture or grills, to blow into your home or vehicle. The rains can cause floods, over-saturated vegetation, and ruin important outdoor equipment, such as pool pumps. By following these tips, you can help prevent the amount of damage that affects your home during these types of storms. Just be sure to secure them before the storm actually hits, as it is not safe to be outside during this type of weather.
The Masters Lawn Care will be there when no other company is working, right after the storm hits. We understand that it is important for you to get back to your day to day activities after such an event as a hurrican hitting Gainesville Florida, so we wil be there to help take car of your yard by removing any branches or debris that may have blown into your yard. Please give us a call if you need help preparing for the storm. (352)378.5296