Posted on Sun, Jun. 15, 2008

Q:What is hurricane pruning?

J.V.,Fort Lauderdale

A: At the beginning of hurricane season, trees with dense canopies need to be thinned out. However, don't hat-rack (over-prune). It's against county code since it weakens the tree and makes it more susceptible to wind damage.

Hire a certified arborist to correctly prune. The pruned tree should look the same but more ''airy.'' If you can easily tell a tree has been pruned, too much growth has been removed. To prune trees correctly requires training as well as experience.

Palms fronds shouldn't be removed. However, you should remove nuts and large seeds during hurricane season.

For more information on pruning, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning.html

Adrian Hunsberger is an entomologist/horticulturist with the UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension office. Write to Plant Clinic, 18710 SW 288th St., Homestead, FL 33030 or e-mail aghu@ifas.ufl.edu.