Rooted in Community: Get Your Yard Storm Ready

The storms that often arrive in late summer and fall can bring powerful winds, heavy rain and saturated soil – conditions that can transform even healthy looking trees into safety hazards. 

Trees provide shade, clean air, soak up stormwater runoff and increase property values. But when neglected, those same trees can pose serious risks. 

Preparing your trees ahead of a storm gives you peace of mind, can help safeguard your home and, importantly, contributes to the overall, long-term health of the City’s tree canopy.  

What does tree health have to do with storm preparation?

When high winds strike, weak trees – or even just heavy branches – can fall and cause major damage. Limbs crashing into homes, cars or power lines are a common toll of severe weather. The good news is that in many cases preventative maintenance can mitigate these risks. 

Healthy, well-maintained trees are much more likely to endure the impacts of tropical-storm-force winds. Addressing issues such as disease, pest infestations, weak branches or root rot can drastically reduce the chance of tree failure during a hurricane. 

Strategic pruning is one of the best ways to prepare trees for storms. When pruning, try to focus on: 

• Removing dead or dying limbs that could break off in high winds 
• Balancing the canopy to help prevent uprooting 

Done properly (ideally by a certified arborist), pruning can also stimulate healthy growth, improve strength and stability and ultimately prolong a tree’s lifespan. 

Trees suffering from diseases such as root rot or fungal infections may look fine to the untrained eye, but their structure may be compromised from within. Infestations by pests can weaken even large, mature trees. Treatments will vary depending on the issue, but early detection and proper maintenance can help keep these problems from becoming a hazard. 

Every time a mature tree is lost during a storm, it takes a generation to replace its ecological benefits. Proactive maintenance not only protects individual trees, but it also helps preserve Virginia Beach’s urban canopy. That canopy reduces heat, filters pollutants, absorbs stormwater runoff and supports local ecosystems. 

Regular tree assessments and care ensure that more trees survive storms, helping to keep neighborhoods cooler, greener and more resilient.  

What can you do? 

• Before the next major weather system, remove branches or limbs that hang over utility lines or threaten your home. 
• Plan annual maintenance by pruning in the off-season, mulching around roots and checking for signs of stress or disease. 
• Schedule a tree inspection with a certified arborist, especially if you have very old or previously storm-damaged trees. 
• If you spot a tree in need of care on public property (such as school grounds, parks, roadway medians), contact the City’s Park & Landscape Services to conduct a hazardous tree assessment. To submit a request, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/Landscape.  

For other actions you can take to ensure that you, your family, pets and businesses also are prepared for the peak hurricane season, and additional helpful resources, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/ReadyVB. 

Also, make sure you are signed up for VBAlert, so that you receive local emergency notifications.  

With storm season ramping up, now is a great time to give your trees the TLC they need. Proactive care is an investment in safety, property protection and our local environment. Whether you’re preparing for a hurricane or simply want to support a healthy tree canopy, taking action today will pay dividends for years to come. 

• Urban Forestry
• Park & Landscape Services
• ReadyVB