2024-12-05 Storm Prep

Preparing Your Athens Trees for Hurricane Season

Athens is far enough inland that we don't see direct hurricane impacts often — but remnants of tropical storms regularly bring high winds and saturated ground that take down trees. A little preparation goes a long way.

Pre-season inspection

Walk your property and look at every large tree. Are there visible dead branches? Cracks at major branch unions? Lean? Mushrooms at the base? Any of these warrant a closer look by a certified arborist before storm season arrives.

Strategic pruning

Crown thinning by 10–20% reduces wind resistance dramatically without harming tree health. This is especially valuable for tall loblolly pines that catch wind like sails. Crown raising removes lower limbs that can act as 'sails' close to structures. Never top trees — topped trees are actually MORE likely to fail in storms.

Cabling and bracing

For trees with weak unions or splits that can be saved, professional cabling and bracing reduces failure risk significantly. This is permanent hardware installed high in the canopy — a great investment for high-value mature Athens trees.

Remove obvious hazards

Standing dead trees, severely leaning trees, and trees with major structural defects should come down before storm season, not during. The cost of proactive removal is a fraction of emergency removal plus property damage.

Prepare your emergency plan

Save the number of a 24/7 tree service before you need one. Know which utility to call for power line issues (Georgia Power: 888-891-0938). Document your trees with photos for insurance purposes.