The question isn't whether hurricanes and tropical storms will make landfall in 2025. The question is—are you taking advantage of the time available now to protect your commercial landscape from avoidable damage?
People’s safety is the main concern with any storm, large or small. That’s a given. The thing is, there often just as many injuries that happen after the storm when proper clean-up and safety procedures aren’t followed. We’ll discuss those procedures and best practices along with the following topics:
- Storm-resistant landscape planting
- Drainage solutions
- Pre-season planning
- Recovery and restoration
There are lots of ways to avoid dangerous and costly storm-related problems long before a storm is on the radar. Just knowing the prime dates for when a tropical storm is most likely to strike in 2025 gives you an added layer of protection. Those dates are below for you to mark on your calendar, especially if your commercial property is in Florida.
When is Hurricane Season 2025?
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity typically between mid-August and mid-October.
Critical dates to note for hurricane season 2025:
- May 15: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) begins issuing regular Tropical Weather Outlooks.
- June 1: Official start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season—when the majority of tropical and subtropical storms begin to form in the Atlantic basin.
- Mid-August to Mid-October: Marks the historical peak of hurricane activity. Heightened vigilance is a must.
- November 30: Official end of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Storms can occasionally form outside these dates, but the NHC stops issuing regular hurricane advisories for the Atlantic.
Florida faces a 92% chance of a tropical storm and a 65% chance of a hurricane making landfall in the state in 2025.
Storm Resistant Landscape Planting
Hurricanes are a force of nature. Some damage can’t be avoided. However, using other “forces of nature” helps property owners. For one, nature created certain trees that are more resistant to brutal storms.
See the following list of wind-resistant trees to plant in Florida:
- Live oak
- Gumbo limbo
- Sabal palm
- Royal palm
- Buttonwood
- Mahogany
- Crape myrtle
- Sand live oak
- American holly
- Southern magnolia
- Wax myrtle
- Seagrape
But what are some common features that help those trees hold up to hurricane winds? Deep roots are one key. Flexible trunks help, too, along with the ability to bounce back after heavy winds. Proper planting strategies are often missed unless your landscaping provider has experienced, certified arborists on staff.
Tree planting strategies include the following:
- Use native trees
- Right tree, right place philosophy is a must
- Group plantings that maximize wind protection
- Salt-tolerant trees can fend off wind and salt damage
- Large trees shouldn’t be planted near structures or power lines
- Proper watering in the first two years leads to stronger root health
- Allow ideal space for tree growth to maximize health and resilience
Then you should consider the best groundcovers and shrubs for Florida’s hurricane season. Discuss species options with your provider. Not only can an experienced landscape company help choose great wind-resistant options, the top-tier providers also consider how your overall landscape is affected by new installations.
Here are some shrub and groundcover options our teams at Yellowstone Landscape often choose for our customers with properties in the likely path of hurricanes).
3 wind-resistant shrubs:
- Firebush (bird and butterfly attractor)
- Simpson’s stopper (native hardiness)
- Silver buttonwood (ideal for coastal landscapes)
3 wind-resistant groundcovers:
- Foxtail fern (hardy and low-growing)
- Beach sunflower (spreading and colorful)
- Emerald blanket carissa (dense and salt-tolerant)
Drainage Solutions: Keeping Your Landscape Safe from Flooding
The first step to help you avoid flooding issues on your property due to tropical storms is assessing drainage systems. Do you have standing water, soggy areas, or signs of erosion? These are alerts telling you your drainage systems need a closer look.
These signs get missed if your landscape company fails to walk the property with you when doing its inspections. They’re also missed if your provider doesn’t include checklists for these issues during weekly maintenance tasks.
Yellowstone teams’ checklist system can help spot these trouble spots before they become a major problem during 2025’s hurricane season.
Best practices to perform before hurricane season include tasks such as:
- Clearing debris on top of drains
- Cleaning gutters and downspouts
- Removing leftover leaves that could blow into drains
Are there other ways to help prevent water damage from tropical storms or hurricanes? Absolutely.
Drainage Enhancements
French drains are an affordable option depending on the property size and layout. Bioswales are shallow, grassy channels that guide excess surface water away from landscaped areas you wish to protect. Berms also help divert water.
Then there are even simpler options like using permeable surfaces. Pavers, decorative pebbles, and porous concrete allow rainwater to soak into the ground. This minimizes runoff and risks of flood damage.
When planning new construction, consider possibilities for incorporating permeable surfaces before using traditional pavement or concrete. Replacing those hard surfaces after the fact would likely be cost-prohibitive.
Two more drainage solutions you can look into are rain gardens and dry wells. Adding native plants to rain gardens increases the natural absorption already gained with rain gardens. Dry wells collect excess water—then slowly release it. This reduces pooling issues and takes “pressure” off your main drains.
Soil Management
Hurricane winds can affect trees and plants even more due to an unseen factor—Florida’s sandy or clay-packed soil. Since soils like those are not ideal for most landscaping elements, trees and plants may not grow as strong as they would in higher-quality soil. And that’s where soil amendments can save the day.
Compost and organic matter improve soil structure and quality. Water will move more freely in amended soil. The added bonus? Better breathability for roots, leading to healthier tree, shrub, and plant roots.
Your commercial landscape provider shouldn’t stop there, though. Your property’s soil reaches higher levels of quality through regular aeration.
This service loosens compacted soil. The result is ground that absorbs water better, reducing runoff and erosion. Aeration is always part of Yellowstone Landscape’s comprehensive landscape program—it’s vital for maximum curb appeal and landscape durability.
Pre-Season Planning: Pruning, Preparation, and Prevention
Being ready for 2025’s hurricane season hinges on solid planning. Aim to have your provider prune well before June 1 (hurricane season’s official kickoff). Dead, diseased, and weak branches should be removed, as they could cause injuries and property damage during heavy winds.
If your provider doesn’t have certified arborists on staff like Yellowstone Landscape does, please seek an experienced arborist. They can guide you on thinning dense canopies to reduce tree damage by allowing wind to pass through unimpeded.
Beware of improperly trained personnel becoming overzealous with pruning and trimming valuable Florida trees and shrubs. The one-third rule is a good guide to avoid harming the health of landscape elements (no more than one-third of a tree or shrub’s canopy should be trimmed at one time).
Another threat to your trees is improperly topping trees (aka hat-racking). This poor practice weakens the tree’s structure. Selective thinning is the right procedure. Branches should be pruned carefully back to a living branch “fork.” The branch collar should be left intact to promote healthy healing.
What about palm trees?
Arborists should remove just the brown or dead fronds below the horizon line. So-called “hurricane cuts” weaken palm trees, robbing them of nutrients and stealing their natural ability to sway in brutal wind storms.
Why clean up commercial landscapes before hurricanes?
You don’t want loose items flying around your property with high winds. Items that should be removed or battened down include the following:
- Fallen limbs
- Decorations
- Hanging baskets
- Loose signage
- Outdoor furniture
- Trash and recycling bins
- Potted plants
- Patio heaters
- Trash and recycling bins
Even gravel and small decorative rocks in elevated planters or hanging baskets could be tossed around by hurricane-force winds. So, consider soft mulch in elevated landscaping spots.
Irrigation and Fertilization During Hurricane Season
Trusted landscaping firms should already be performing irrigation inspections regularly. However, if you’re unsure whether your provider is, request an inspection—especially when a tropical storm is forecast. You don’t need the added flood potential of a hurricane on top of an already leaky irrigation system.
Of course, irrigation systems should be turned off if a hurricane is predicted in your area. This helps avoid electrical hazards and the flooding mentioned. If your irrigation system is older, are you sure it’s fully weatherproof? If not, check with your service provider and consider upgrading to a new smart irrigation system designed to be hassle-free and adaptable to weather.
Tree Placement and New Plantings
If you’ve had new trees installed in early spring, pay close attention to those as hurricane season gains momentum. Young trees are still establishing roots. That makes them vulnerable. So, be sure measures are taken to protect them during tropical winds (i.e., tree staking and guying).
Summer is not the ideal time to plant trees in Florida. But if you’re in the process of having trees installed, check that your landscapers are aware of spacing best practices. Without proper spacing, tree roots may not develop properly, leaving them susceptible to wind damage. Combined with summer heat hazards, weak root systems lead to new trees dying and having to be replaced.
Post-Storm: Recovery and Restoration
After the storm has passed, you and your landscaping provider can assess the damage (when it’s safe). What are the initial landscaping concerns to look for?
- Cracked tree trunks
- Broken limbs
- Leaning trees
- Roots exposed
- Flooded areas
- Erosion damage
Trained professionals are the only ones capable of doing proper tree inspections. Protect yourself and your property by contacting a certified arborist.
Debris and Pruning
The next steps involve prioritizing the most critical debris to remove first. Hanging branches are a serious hazard, just like trunk damage. These should be managed first, clearing the way to remove smaller debris (e.g., fallen limbs, and slippery leaves).
Hurricane recovery shouldn’t be rushed. Once safety concerns are handled, there will be time for restorative pruning where needed. Branches with slight damage may need to be trimmed back using sharp cutting tools—reduces chance of disease and promotes healthy regrowth.
A big mistake that’s common after tropical storms is aggressive pruning. Trees will recover naturally most of the time with minimal pruning where necessary and not going overboard.
Soil and Drainage Post-storm Inspection
Next, your landscape provider should check for drainage and soil issues due to the hurricane. Things to notice are:
- Is there pooling of water?
- Has soil been washed away?
- Are certain parts of the soil compacted now?
Eroded spots should be filled in with quality soil, and then regraded if needed to avoid future drainage problems. To loosen compacted soil, aeration is in order. If mulch was washed out, it’s smart to replace it soon as possible. Also, filling in any missing ground cover will help prevent pooling and erosion going forward.
Replanting and Long-term Considerations
Finally, it’s time to replant and look at long-term improvements. Start by replacing any lost trees. Installing storm-resistant species is the right way to go (using the tree list noted earlier). Just be certain your landscape company follows the “right plant, right place” philosophy, as it’ll help your new trees withstand more than summer storm threats.
As for smaller plant replacement, aim to reduce labor and resource needs by selecting native species whenever feasible. Consider drought- and salt-tolerant plants as well as plants that can hold up to high winds.
Remember, at this stage of hurricane recovery, you have to think about the overall design of your landscape. What improvements can be made with better plant placement, groupings, and drainage? Use lessons learned from the storm damage to guide the process. Doing so makes your entire landscape more resilient when the next tropical storm blows in.
Conclusion
Now you’re prepared with the exact dates for the 2025 hurricane season. You even know the dates when the odds increase for summer storms in Florida.
We also informed you about best practices for a storm-resistant landscape on commercial properties. The list of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers gives you sturdy options to increase your property’s durability. Strategic planting is a vital part of the process.
You also learned about assessing drainage systems and the potential for flooding if your property gets slammed by a large summer storm. That assessment along with pre-season planning improves your odds of preventing avoidable tropical storm damage.
We concluded with recovery and restoration steps for when the storm has ended. Safety is the main thing. Hurricanes can’t be avoided. However, injuries to personnel post-storm can be. Additional property damage can be prevented as well, if proper steps are taken—starting with tree assessments, working your way down the list to smaller post-hurricane concerns.
Thinking about violent storms can be stressful. But Yellowstone Landscape can help you make your commercial landscape storm-ready. Give us a call today to take some of the worry off your mind about 2025’s hurricane season.
