Explore more tips for citrus grove hurricane prep from the UF/IFAS Tip of the Week as the hurricane season heats up.

The height of the Atlantic Hurricane Season is approaching, and that means it’s time to ensure your grove is ready to weather the storm. We shared citrus grove hurricane prep tips from a different UF/IFAS Tip of the Week in a past blog, and now we share the next round of tips from the most current UF/IFAS Tip of the Week article. See the tips below.

Tips for Citrus Grove Hurricane Prep

These tips for citrus grove hurricane prep are from the article:

Secure Supplies

  • “Tanks containing fuel, fertilizer and other materials should be kept full, so they do not move in the wind and rain and to ensure that sufficient fuel is available for machinery used in recovery efforts after the storm.
  • Hazardous materials should be secured prior to a storm, and gasoline pumps should be shut down.
  • Make sure that all emergency equipment — including generators, chain saws, torches and air compressors — is on hand and in good repair. Large diesel-powered generators with 25- to 60-kilowatt capacity can be rented or leased by the month during the hurricane season.”

Communications Considerations

  • “Ensure that radios are in good working order. Have handheld portable radios with extra charged battery packs available for workers who will need them in the field after the storm. Direct truck-to-truck radio communication is most dependable when phone lines are down. Cellular phones with radio capabilities and standard cellular phones can help workers save valuable time during the recovery process.
  • Have a list of phone numbers you might need in an emergency, including numbers for the phone and electric companies, sheriff and medical facilities.”

Other Prep

  • “Trees should be pruned regularly to reduce broken limbs and minimize toppled or uprooted trees. Windbreaks can also reduce tree damage and the spread of citrus canker bacterium.
  • Ditches should be kept clean and pumped down to help maximize water removal efforts after the storm.
  • While some of these steps may seem simple, tending to them before a storm is on the horizon will help growers respond as soon as the storm passes.”

Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.