From the beautiful Battery to Rainbow Row, Charleston is a slice of southern paradise. But we get some storms that certainly aren\u2019t sweet as pie. Hurricanes love to make an uninvited appearance, which spells trouble for homes and yards.<\/p>
When a hurricane heads our way, the last thing you want is to worry about whether your trees will blow over or if your home will flood. We have 11 tips to prepare your Charleston landscape for a season of storms, so you can enjoy the waves at Folly Beach without panicking when the surf gets choppy. <\/p>
If you live right on the water, a backyard buffer<\/strong> (AKA shoreline buffer or riparian buffer) is the perfect two-for-one deal: It both protects our waterways from polluted runoff and keeps your yard safe from flooding when Mother Nature visits. <\/p> A backyard buffer is a strip of flowers, shrubs, and trees that lies between your backyard and the shore. Not only is it the first line of defense for your home when stormwater surges, but it offers a host of ecological and economic benefits: <\/p> \u2713 Reduces erosion Choose native plants for your buffer area. Native plants<\/a> have deep roots and won\u2019t require pesticide, fertilizer, or additional water, so they\u2019re ideal for a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant backyard.<\/p> Check out the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control\u2019s \u201cBackyard Buffers for the South Carolina Low Country\u201d<\/a> for helpful tips on how to install and maintain your buffer area.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> The price of a backyard buffer depends on the size of your buffer zone and what type of plants you are installing. Small native perennials range from $4 to $25 each<\/strong> and planting a tree costs between $22 and $3,300<\/strong>. <\/p> Fierce, crashing waves can spray droplets of saltwater onto your lawn. If your lawn is on the water, it\u2019s a good idea to pick out native Charleston plants<\/strong> that can handle a healthy dose of sodium. <\/p> For plants that cannot tolerate salt, salty soil creates a drought-like environment as salt molecules bind tightly to water. Roots struggle to absorb water and nutrients, which leads to plant disease, wilting, and death.<\/p> By choosing salt-tolerant native plants, you won\u2019t have to worry about your plants getting dehydrated and dying when waves splash saltwater into your yard. <\/p> Salt-tolerant plants for Charleston:<\/strong><\/p> Want more salt-tolerant landscaping options? Check out the Clemson extension\u2019s list of salt-tolerant plants for the South Carolina coast<\/a>.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> You can buy small salt-tolerant perennials at the South Carolina Native Plant Society\u2019s Lowcountry plant sale<\/a> for $4 to $25<\/strong>. Professional flower bed installation costs between $585 and $3,300<\/strong>.<\/p> Charleston has had three category 4 hurricanes make landfall since 1851, and they\u2019ve each caused enormous destruction (Hugo damaged 75% of homes<\/a> in our historic district). With wind speeds of up to 156 mph, category 4 hurricanes can be especially tough on trees \u2014 and the last thing you want is a tree falling on your house during a severe storm. <\/p> Wind-resistant trees serve two purposes: They resist being uprooted during storms and act as sturdy buffers to protect your home from wind damage. Here are some of the best deciduous and evergreen trees for your Charleston lawn.<\/p> Small trees:<\/strong><\/p> Large trees:<\/strong><\/p> These trees are all native to Charleston, which means they\u2019ll resist fungus and disease better than non-native species.<\/p> Trees to avoid:<\/strong> Sand pine, Chinese elm, water oak, and laurel oak can\u2019t handle our windy summer weather.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Planting a tree costs between $22 and $3,300<\/strong>, depending on the species and size of the tree. A tiny sapling will cost less than a tall, mature tree. <\/p> Eager to plant your new wind-resistant tree? Before you grab your shovel, follow these planting guidelines to keep your home and utilities safe. After all, you want your new tree to protect your home during the next big storm \u2014 not cut off your water or shut down your electricity! <\/p> Tips for safe tree placement: <\/strong><\/p> Tree placement is important for your safety and your wallet. Insurance companies may cancel your policy if they see that a tree branch is touching your roof, and if utilities and septic systems are damaged by tree roots, you\u2019ll be responsible for the repairs.<\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Safe tree placement doesn\u2019t come at a cost, but if you have a tree in an unsafe location, transplanting a tree typically costs between $158 and $880<\/strong>, depending on its size. Tree removal costs $347 to $1,117 per tree<\/strong>.<\/p> Palm trees are good choices to plant near your home due to their compact canopy and root system. A 3-gallon tree typically costs between $35 and $100<\/strong>, while professional installation of a mature palm tree costs between $500 and $2,000<\/strong>.<\/p> Ain\u2019t no party like a tree party! Planting trees in groups of five or more<\/strong> increases their resistance to high winds by over 10%<\/a>, which means better protection for your home during hurricane season. Plus, a display of five different trees, each with a unique aesthetic and different height, gives your lawn curb appeal. <\/p> Don\u2019t just plant your trees in a row. The University of Florida recommends that you plant trees in a natural formation, with each tree within 10 feet of another. This formation will create a strong, natural windbreak.<\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Buying saplings or trees in bulk could lower the cost of each tree, and paying for professional installation of five trees will cost less per tree than the cost to install one tree. <\/p> When high winds come howling through Charleston, you don\u2019t want hard mulches like stones and pebbles to pummel your windows and siding. Soft, organic mulches<\/a><\/strong> like shredded bark, decomposing leaves, and wood chips<\/strong> keep your plants in place, prevent erosion, and protect tree roots \u2014 and if they go flying into the air, they won\u2019t do major home damage. <\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Shredded bark mulch costs about $65 per cubic yard<\/strong> and aged wood chips cost about $70 per cubic yard<\/strong>. You can get fresh wood chips for free from your local arborist or tree recycling center, or compost your own leaves and grass clippings for homemade, nutrient-rich mulch.<\/p> Branches from overgrown hedges become projectiles when high winds hit, and you don\u2019t want to hear the smash <\/em>of your car window as a tropical storm blows through. Regularly prune and trim<\/a> <\/strong>your trees and shrubs so they\u2019re tidy and safe for storm season. <\/p> Pro Tip:<\/strong> Trim your plants at the beginning<\/em> of storm season, not immediately before a storm hits. Twigs and branches lying by the curb can be picked up by gusts of wind and pose a threat to your landscape and home.<\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Professional trimming costs <\/strong>about $428 per tree <\/strong>and $9 per bush<\/strong>, or $57 per hour<\/strong> of hedge trimming.<\/p> It\u2019s time to think vertically. What\u2019s above your head that could fall onto your home, car, or lawn?<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> A professional roof cleaning typically costs between $337 and $667<\/strong>. Otherwise, it\u2019s free to walk around your yard and remove hazardous debris and hanging lawn ornaments. <\/p> You can\u2019t stop rain from falling from the sky, but you can keep it flowing in the right direction \u2014 away from your lawn. Clear the way for stormwater to flow directly to the storm drain, so it doesn\u2019t flood your lawn and make its way to your home\u2019s foundation. <\/p> Clean your gutters, check your downspouts, and remove landscape features that block the flow of water. Then, clear out your storm drain and pick up leaves, rocks, and branches lying around your lawn. You don\u2019t want them to clog the drain as rainwater flows across your lawn, as this can lead to both flooding and puddling.<\/p> Puddling may not sound dangerous, but standing water loosens roots and can cause trees to fall after storms \u2014 just when you think you\u2019re in the clear.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Hiring a Charleston yard care pro<\/a> to clean up leaves and yard debris typically costs $154 to $411<\/strong>.<\/p> If you live on the waterfront, a seawall<\/strong> may be just what you need to protect your lawn from flooding and erosion. Seawalls are exactly what they sound like: Low retaining walls designed to keep the sea, well, at bay. When a wave hits a seawall, the wall redirects most of the wave\u2019s force back out to the water, which keeps your shoreline safe. <\/p> Seawalls are typically made of steel, vinyl, concrete, wood, or riprap (loose stone). You can choose the best material based on the intensity of the waves that hit your shore and your budget. For example, steel is sturdier than wood, but it\u2019s also more expensive. <\/p> Cost: <\/strong>Seawall installation costs most homeowners $113 to $770 per linear foot<\/strong>, depending on the material they choose and their particular landscape.<\/p> Fences are fantastic for keeping your home safe, offering your family privacy, and giving your kids and pets a secure place to play. But you don\u2019t want to install a lovely wooden fence only to have it crash to the ground when high winds hit. <\/p> Here are the best fence options<\/strong> for your Charleston yard: <\/p> Fencing to avoid: <\/strong><\/p> Pro Tip:<\/strong> Want the privacy of a solid fence with the wind resistance of a chain-link fence? Spread a fabric privacy screen across your chain-link or slatted fence. <\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Aluminum or iron fences typically cost $30 to $60 per linear foot<\/strong>. Chain-link fences are more affordable, ranging from $10 to $30 per linear foot<\/strong>. <\/p> Every year, South Carolina has a 79.7% chance<\/a> of being impacted by a tropical storm system. When a hurricane heads our way, you\u2019ll want to stock up on groceries, cover your windows, and hunker down \u2014 not fret about whether this will be the storm to destroy your garage or blow down your fence.<\/p> By planting erosion-resistant native plants, choosing wind-tolerant trees, cleaning up your yard, and installing flood-resistant features, you\u2019ll keep your home safe in the long term and save your wallet from expensive repair bills. <\/p> Charleston is a slice of sunny southern heaven, but we\u2019re also one of the top 10 cities at risk from hurricane damage<\/a>, which means we have to prepare for severe summer storms. We don\u2019t want another Hurricane Hugo to damage our beautiful historic homes.<\/p> While some hurricane-resistant landscape designs are easy DIY projects, major storm-proofing requires a professional touch. Hire a team of Charleston lawn care pros<\/a> to prepare your lawn for hurricane season, so you can enjoy the charms of Charleston and hunker down when the time comes.<\/p> Main Photo Credit: denisbin | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY-ND 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From the beautiful Battery to Rainbow Row, Charleston is a slice of southern paradise. But we get some storms that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":7834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[404],"class_list":["post-7827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-south-carolina","tag-lawn-care-charleston-sc"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rsz_151354655985_fc24d25f64_h.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Maille Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/maille-rose-smith\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7827\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u2713 Increases property value
\u2713 Offers lawn privacy
\u2713 Prevents flood and wind damage
\u2713 Protects waterways from overheating
\u2713 Serves as a habitat to native wildlife
\u2713 Provides a shady area to enjoy nature<\/p> 2. Choose salt-tolerant plants<\/span><\/h2>
3. Plant wind-resistant trees<\/span><\/h2>
4. Plan tree placement<\/span><\/h2>
5. Group trees together<\/span><\/h2>
6. Add soft, organic mulch<\/span><\/h2>
7. Trim your trees<\/span><\/h2>
8. Look to the sky<\/span><\/h2>
9. Clear the path to your storm drain<\/span><\/h2>
10. Install a seawall<\/span><\/h2>
11. Build hurricane-resistant fencing<\/span><\/h2>
Why create a hurricane-resistant landscape<\/span><\/h2>
Call a pro to put storms in their place<\/span><\/h2>