Hurricane Season Prep Timeline: 90-, 60-, 30-Day Tree Tasks
- Oliver Owens
- Dec 11, 2025
- 6 min read
If you live in Hillsborough County, you don’t prep trees “once in June.” You work a countdown. The goal isn’t a manic chop the week before landfall—it’s a few small, smart moves that keep limbs off the roof, off the pool cage, and out of power drops, supported by photos that make adjusters’ lives easy if you ever need them.
Below is a simple 90/60/30-day plan we use with local clients. Keep this page handy, or print the checklist at the end.
90 Days Out — The “Find & Plan” Window (calm weather, best pricing)
Why now: Crews aren’t slammed, and you have time to do structural work the right way (ANSI A300—no topping, no lion-tailing).
Walk this 20-minute route with your phone:
Front wide shot (house and roofline in frame).
Roof conflicts (limbs over shingles, valley/ gutter contact).
Walls/stucco contact (show 0″ gap where foliage touches).
Walkway/drive headroom (include a person/tape).
Pool cage contact (fronds/branches graze or hang over).
Service drop (the line from pole to house—any nearby limbs?).
Trunk/root flare (look for new lean, soil heave, buried flare).
Save photos in a folder named 2026_Hurricane_Prep_BEFORE.
Set measurable targets (what inspectors want to see):
Rooflines: restore 6–10 ft vertical clearance.
Walls: maintain 18–24 in air gap.
Walkways: 7–8 ft headroom.
Drive lanes: 13 ft where feasible.
Service areas: 3′ × 3′ clear box at electrical panel & A/C.
Pool cage: no contact with screens— even in a breeze.
Palms: remove brown fronds + fruit/flower stalks only; keep green fronds at/above 9–3 (no “hurricane cuts”).
Prefer the easy button? Book Tree Trimming. We’ll mark cut lines on your photos and prune to ANSI A300 so your “after” images match the targets.
Special calls at 90 days
Big trees with codominant stems (tight V): schedule a Tree Health Assessment; you may need reduction cuts and possibly cabling/bracing long before storms.
Palms over pool cages: put them on a seasonal seed/flower removal cadence so stalks don’t glue to screen panels in July–August.
60 Days Out — Structural Trims & Palm Programs
This is the work window. Focus on reduction cuts (shorten lever arms to strong laterals) and crown cleaning (dead, dying, broken, rubbing). Skip topping—it creates weak sprouts that fail first in wind.
On the day of service, ask your crew to:
Photograph after-angles that match your befores (same filenames + “_After”).
Note ANSI A300 on the invoice: “Reduction cuts to suitable laterals; crown cleaning; no topping; no lion-tailing.”
Restore targets: 6–10′ roof, 18–24″ wall, 7–8′ walk, 13′ drive, 3′×3′ service, no-touch cage, palms per 9–3.
Palms (quick rules):
Remove brown fronds and fruit/flower stalks only.
Never shave crowns (“hurricane cut”)—that weakens palms before storm stress.
If the spear leaf (center emerging frond) is damaged or missing, stop and call us—random cutting can kill the palm.
Documents to keep (drop in your cloud):
Before/after photo pairs
The invoice and scope with ANSI A300 wording
A quick note listing the clearances restored
These three items resolve most HOA and insurance questions fast.
30 Days Out — “Friction Fixes” & Light Duty
You’re not making big cuts now. You’re clearing snags and improving airflow so things dry between daily storms.
Clear gutters/valleys from the ground with extension tools (photograph clogs first).
Trim shrubs off stucco to re-establish the 18–24″ wall gap.
Raise headroom over walkways to 7–8 ft if low twigs droop in summer humidity.
Check pool cage edges—nothing should scrape the frame.
Remove deadwood you can reach safely from the ground (hand pruners only).
Do NOT: climb roofs; cut large limbs; work near the service drop. If you discover a hanger, a fresh crack, or anything near power, flag it and call Emergency Tree Service.
14–7 Days Out — Storm Track Exists (Triage & Documentation)
If a named system is on a likely path:
Photograph again (brief set):
Front wide, 2) Roof conflict, 3) Pool cage contact check, 4) Service drop, 5) Any new hangers/cracks. Name this folder 2026_TrackSeen_CHECK.
Make-safe moves you can do:
Tie back loose yard items that could hit trunks or poke screens.
Lower umbrellas/sails near trees; stow grills/furniture to prevent impacts.
Tarp small roof punctures only if already present and reachable from a short ladder—photograph first.
If you see any of the following, stop and call us (Emergency Tree Service):
Limb touching the service drop or primary lines
Cracks at unions, fresh leans, soil heave at the base
Limb over the roof that’s obviously binding on another limb (tension)
We’ll send a bucket or climber to stabilize—no topping, just ANSI reductions and hanger removals.
72–48 Hours Out — Final Quick Checks
Palm pass: remove brown fronds and fruit/flower stalks that could become spears in wind.
Gate access: make sure crews (and you) can reach panels, meters, shutoffs.
Vehicle plan: park away from over-extended limbs; photograph where your cars are.
Roofline walk-around: verify nothing is touching gutters/valleys.
Create a one-page “contact sheet”: your policy number, utility outage line, roofer, and Emergency Tree Service link/number.
During & Right After the Storm — Safety + Claims
Safety first: Assume lines are live. Don’t climb on wet roofs. Beware of limbs under tension.
Post-storm photo set (same angles), then:
RED issues (call immediately): limb through roof/cage, contact with service drop, cracked union over driveway/entry.
YELLOW (within 1–3 days): new hangers, roof overhangs not touching, cage proximity.
GREEN (next route): cosmetic debris, small deadwood.
Claim email template (copy/paste):
Subject: Storm Tree Damage — Photos + ANSI Pruning Plan Hello, Attached are before/after photos of tree clearances completed pre-storm (ANSI A300) and post-storm photos documenting new damage at address. We request inspection/coverage for the documented damage. Thanks, Name
Attach your pre-season “after” packet as proof that maintenance was done to standard.
What Not To Do (the five fastest ways to fail the next inspection)
Topping to “make it shorter.” It creates weak regrowth and future claims.
Lion-tailing (stripping interior foliage). It pushes sail to the tips.
Flush cuts (at or inside the collar). They invite decay.
Hurricane-cut palms. This weakens the crown before the wind test.
Skipping documentation. If it isn’t photographed and written as ANSI A300, it never happened in the eyes of a file reviewer.
FAQs
Can you “make my trees storm-safe” in one visit?
We can make them safer. The right method is reduction cuts to strong laterals over roofs/walks, crown cleaning, and measurable clearances—not topping. We’ll give you before/after photos that match your targets.
Do I need a permit just to prune?
Often no. Some jurisdictions regulate removals or protected species. If permits or arborist letters are required, we handle them and add copies to your packet.
What about cabling/bracing?
If we see codominant stems with included bark or a developing split, we may recommend cabling/bracing + reduction well before storms. We’ll diagram anchor points and schedule inspections.
How often should I repeat this?
Put structural trims on a 12–24 month cycle and palms on seasonal care. You’ll glide through most re-inspections.
Your Easy Prep Checklist (print or save)
90 Days Out
☐ Shoot 7 before photos (front, roof, wall, walk/drive, cage, service drop, root flare)
☐ Book Tree Trimming (ANSI A300)
☐ Set targets: 6–10′ roof, 18–24″ wall, 7–8′ walk, 13′ drive, 3′×3′ service, cage no-touch, palms 9–3
60 Days Out
☐ Complete structural trims; keep invoice with ANSI wording
☐ Get after photos (same angles/filenames)
☐ Start seasonal palm program (brown + fruit/flower only)
30 Days Out
☐ Clear gutters/valleys from ground; restore 24″ wall gap
☐ Raise walkway headroom to 7–8′ where needed
☐ Verify cage no-touch
14–7 Days Out
☐ Quick re-photo (front, roof, cage, service drop, hangers)
☐ Stage furniture; tie down loose items
☐ Call Emergency Tree Service for any RED issues
72–48 Hours Out
☐ Palm pass (brown/fruit/flower)
☐ Gate & panel access clear
☐ Vehicle relocation plan; roofline walk-around
After the Storm
☐ Safety first; assume lines live
☐ Post-storm photo set (same angles)
☐ Send claim email with pre-season “after” packet attached
Why choose All Your Way Tree Service
We work to ANSI A300 every time—reduction cuts, crown cleaning, no topping—and we give you before/after photo pairs that mirror your targets for HOA and insurance files. Most clients stay on a 12–24 month plan so hurricane prep becomes routine, not a scramble.
Book Tree Trimming for your 90–60 day window.
Call Emergency Tree Service for hangers, cracks, and utility conflicts.
Optional free backlinks to add lightly (trust builders)
Use one or two near relevant sections; they’re non-commercial and Florida-smart:
UF/IFAS — Pruning Landscape Trees & Shrubs (clear, Florida-specific best practices)
UF/IFAS — Preparing Trees for Hurricanes (research-backed guide)
ISA — Homeowner Pruning Guide (anti-topping, proper cuts)
Ready.gov — Storm documentation basics (for the photo checklist)
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