Preparing Your Trees for Hurricane Season

During a hurricane or tropical storm, a healthy tree in the right place could protect your home from storm damage by acting as a wind-break, but a neglected tree can do more harm than good.

Always remember, do not begin a pruning project while a watch or warning for Tropical Storms or Hurricanes is in effect.

Poorly pruned trees are more likely to break or fall during a storm. Some fallen or damaged trees after a storm may be from improper cutting or pruning. It is, therefore, important that your trees are serviced by a certified arborist. 

Well before hurricane season, do these things:

• Get your trees pruned when the tree species is dormant or during early spring. Ask a certified arborist when is the best time to trim your particular species.
• Have your trees cleared of deadwood. Deadwood invites pests and can easily break away into projectiles during a storm.
• Work with a licensed and insured certified arborist. 
• Don't top-out or over-prune your trees. A certified arborist will ensure that the canopy is preserved, taking no more than 25% of it's normal growth.
• Protect the root system. If there is a conflict with the root system and some structure, let the arborist review the situation and determine if it's safe to prune the roots, or consider full tree removal.
• Properly dispose of cut wood. Branches and logs left behind could become projectiles during a severe storm. 
• Have any stumps ground down below grade. Stumps above grade pose a tripping hazard, and threat to lawncare equipment regardless of season.

My Client, Mid Florida Tree Service has the knowledge  & experience to help ensure all your trees are as ready as they can be when Hurricane Season arrives.

I could have just as well titled this "Tree Service in South Shore". Riverview, Apollo Beach and Gibsonton are growing together into a mini-metro in South East Hillsborough County. The "River" in "Riverview" and the "Shore" in "South Shore" both refer to the Alifia river which provides habitat for wildlife as well as a place for recreation for residents and visitors. This growing community is home to lush greenery and fantastic landscapes. Riverview property owners who wish to maintain the natural beauty of their land must ensure the health of their trees. Storms are both a yearly and seasonal concern due to the tropical climate & high humidity. Property damage can be reduced or eliminated by regular upkeep by a Riverview Florida tree service.

Pruning and Trimming
Residents often need tree service for pruning & trimming their trees. This helps maintain the appearance while reducing potential threats during storms. Because of the wide range of trees native to Florida, a professional arborist from a Riverview Florida tree service is your best consultant.

Riverview tree service can consist of:

Thinning branches. This allows for better visibility, wind mitigation and to allow more sunlight to reach the ground.
Trimming ends to reduce the weight of branches, reducing the number of broken and falling limbs.
Ornamental shaping for shrubbery or hedges
Reducing overall weight to prevent splits and breakage
Parasite prevention & removal
Root pruning & deep root fertilization
Complete tree removal & stump grinding

There are many benefits for Riverview Residents to keep their trees healthy. Properly maintained landscapes just look better. That by itself is known to raise property values. Because our area is prone to hurricanes and storms, there is greater importance of a trusted tree service. A branch falling or being blown into a structure can require costly repairs and the struggles of insurance claims. Potential damages may be reduced or prevented by removing dry, dead or damaged limbs. In some cases tree removal service may be required.

Riverview Florida and other South Shore residents and land owners must follow the guidelines set by Hillsborough County regarding tree removal authorization. In an emergency, Consulting with a Riverview Florida tree service can ease the stress of the situation. A Riverview arborist that understands the procedure can do so proficiently and professionally.

When your Riverview home or other property requires tree service, please call my client, Mid Florida Tree Service.

Tree Regulations in Tampa, Fl.

The City of Tampa puts a high value on the trees within its borders. Therefore, Tampa has regulations covering the tree service industry as well as land owners. If a cypress or mangrove tree needs to be removed in Tampa, a permit is mandatory, regardless of the age or size of the tree. Other protected trees require a permit if the trunk is 5" or more in diameter. Tampa will fine anyone who removes protected trees without the proper permit.

Trees that Do Not Require a Permit to Remove:

At the time of writing, these species of tree require no permit to remove in the Tampa city limits: Ear Tree, Lead Tree, Brazilian Pepper, Austrailian Pine, Punk Tree, Male Mulberry, Earleaf Acacia, Carrotwood, Mimosa, Rosewood, Chinaberry, Queen Palm, Eucalyptus Tree, Wild Cherry, Chinese Tallow, Silk Oak Tree, Monkey Puzzle, Surinam Cherry, Cherry Laurel, Queensland Umbrella Tree, Golden Rain Tree, Citrus (all Types)

Grand Trees in the City of Tampa

Any tree with a trunk at least 34 inches in diameter may qualify as a "Grand Tree". "Grand Trees" have additional protections and must only be removed under specific conditions. When the City of Tampa has determined that a grand tree meets these conditions, a 14 day stay is mandated with a notice procedure which must be completed prior to the permit finally being issued. Mid Florida Tree Service has the experience to help you through this complex process.

The additional protection of grand trees is also applicable to pruning & trimming. Mid Florida Tree Service will send an ISA Certified Arborist to determine if your tree is a "Grand Tree" and request the pruning permit if it is.

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Florida is a bit of a paradise with our warm weather and beautiful beaches. Our climate is perfect for growing fruit trees, ornamental trees and shade trees. One of our most popular shade trees is the Live Oak that can live well over a hundred years!

With a lifespan like that, you can imagine just how large they become. So, if a century old Live Oak or other large tree gets knocked over by a hurricane, tropical storm, or just an average afternoon thunderstorm, what's a person to do?

You don't want just anyone with a chainsaw to start hacking away at it. You need a professional  to assess the situation and come up with a safe plan to remove the downed tree while preventing additional damage to homes, cars or other property, and protecting the lives of anyone nearby.

Mid Florida Tree Service has the experience and equipment required to handle this kind of job safely. If you have a downed tree in the Tampa Florida area, please call Mid Florida Tree Service and let their expert team handle this potentially dangerous situation, and keep you and your family safe.

The Jones family, and their dedicated employees at Mid Florida Tree Service, have been providing professional tree services in and around Temple Terrace Florida for more than forty years. These services include pruning / trimming, fertilizing, removal, stump grinding and land clearing. Mid Florida Tree Service offers their services to individuals, companies and government agencies.

Mid Florida Tree Service staffs Certified Arborists to accurately identify the cause of distress in a tree and recommend a solution such as deep root fertilizer application, soil conditioners, strategic pruning, or if the tree is unrecoverable, they can write the Certified Arborist Affidavit that some municipalities require for removing some trees.

If you have a home or business in Temple Terrace with a tree or limb down, or you have a sick tree that needs help or removal, or you just need to shape up an unattractive or overgrown tree, please consider calling Mid Florida Tree Service at 813-986-2258

Many municipalities in Florida willregulate pruning or removing some trees. Removing a tree just because you no don't like it may be prohibited. There are protected trees are must be left alone. My client, Mid Florida Tree Service, can help determine your tree's eligibility and help acquire in the permit.

Regulations are not the only thing to consider, Florida's urban forests present more challenges. In dense housing developments, we can't just cut & holler "timber!". It just doesn't work that way. You'll need to hire a highly skilled professional, someone who has the experience and equipment to safely climb your tree, rope it for control, and only then begin to cut. This gives them the precision control that keeps everyone safe and avoids property damage.

A sick, dying or dead tree is hazardous to anyone nearby. Let me state the obvious: Trees are heavy! A dead tree, or one of its limbs, falling is a very real and serious threat. This is a life and death issue. If a tree on your land appears weak or in poor condition, please contact Mid Florida Tree Service. They'll save it if possible. If it's beyond help, they can issue a professional written opinion called a Certified Arborist Affidavit which can help with the removal permit.

Byron Lee Jones created Mid-Florida Tree Service in the mid 70s when he was forty. He was affected by a layoff at the Tampa Shipyard and made the decision to start his own company. Without a lot to begin with, except the basic tools and a few employees, including his son Tim, they began servicing trees in and around Tampa. Thirty plus years later, his legacy is apparent in the continuing success of the business.

Sure, there have been challenges, but Byron learned quickly that by providing more than expected, customers would keep coming back and the company would thrive! Byron taught his employees and his son to never take a customer for granted, coining the company motto: "Treat every customer as if they were your only customer".

After running the company through 3 decades with son Tim at his side, Byron allowed Tim to take over the business in 2000 and Tim has been running it well since.

Anyone in the Tampa Area looking for Tree Service, including stump grinding or emergency tree removal would do well to consider Mid Florida Tree Service.

If you own or manage a lot or other property that is within or even abutting an environmentally sensitive area, you may face additional challenges when you need tree service and land clearing done.

What kind of area fit this description? For example, using heavy equipment such as large trucks could damage roots of protected trees. Wetlands or bodies of water may require protection from the fuel and fluids used by chainsaws and other powered tools.

So, if I can't drive in with my truck and I can't use a chainsaw, what do I do? 

You call Mid Florida Tree Service. They'll go in with hand tools and clear the land and protect the environment while they are working. They've been doing this for a long time. (Since 1976) They know what they are doing and, most importantly, they care about the land and habitat they are working on. 

Trust the experienced arborist and tree service professionals at Mid Florida Tree Service.

​Plant City, at the eastern edges of Hillsborough county, is a bit more rural than the rest of the county. This, of course, means a lot more trees. If you're in Plant City and need work done on your trees, the first company you should think of is Mid Florida Tree Service.

Professional tree trimming can help a slow growing tree begin to put on more healthy growth. If your Plant City trees are growing a bit out of hand, then measures can be taken to get them under control. 

Having your trees trimmed isn't only for aesthetics. Yes, everyone wants their yard or property to look nice, but more importantly, a neglected tree can become a hazard and a liability. Falling limbs can puncture roofs, damage cars and, or, injure people. One of the certified arborists at Mid Florida Tree Service can examine your trees and help you determine what's best for them, and make recommendations if there's a tree that might need to come down.

Mid Florida Tree Service, covering Plant City Florida, has the knowledge, experience and equipment to properly and safely care for your trees, bushes and shrubs. Working with chainsaws, ladders and ropes is best left to the professionals. Stay safe and let Mid Fl Tree take care of this work.

Plant City homeowners and business should know that Mid Florida Tree service is available for emergency service 24 hours a day. Inland areas like Plant City and Polk County can seem sheltered from the devastating effects of hurricanes, but hurricane Irma reminded us that the power of these storms has an incredible reach.  Stay prepared for them by keeping your trees trimmed. Recover from these natural disasters with the help of Mid Florida Tree Service emergency tree removal.