How To Prepare Your Yard For Mississippi Storm Season: Tree Service Tips

As June ushers in the official start of storm season in Mississippi, residents and business owners face the annual challenge of preparing their properties for the inevitable heavy rains and strong winds—and taking care of tree cover is a big part of that.

AccuWeather's 2025 forecast points to an above-average hurricane season, with potential landfalls expected to affect cities along the Pine Belt. So, how do you go about preparing for heavy weather?

But First: Why Prepare?

The combination of warm, humid weather and increased rainfall during June and July creates an environment conducive to rapid tree growth. While the lush foliage is aesthetically pleasing, unchecked growth also means weakened branches, which can be hazardous during a tropical storm. The city's storm center warns of storm winds of 20-30 mph with gusts to 40-70 mph.

Remember the 2017 storms that passed through Hattiesburg and on to southeastern Louisiana and other parts of southern Mississippi? They caused over $200 million in damage—much of it by falling trees and branches.

Pruning vs. Trimming

Most professionals will recommend two basic measures: pruning and trimming, but aren't they both basically the same? The experts at Geddie Tree & Land Services categorically say they're not.

Trimming is focused on controlling size and spread, primarily for safety and aesthetic purposes.

Pruning removes dead, diseased, or otherwise compromised branches that are most likely to break off and cause damage. This removal protects your property and promotes the overall health and longevity of your trees.

Beyond basic trimming, an arborist will recommend assessing the structural integrity of larger trees before a storm event. Services like cabling and bracing can provide additional support to valuable trees with weak joints or split trunks, helping them withstand high winds. This foresight can help prevent some storm-related damage to homes, vehicles, or power lines.

The Arborist Advantage: Expert Guidance for Tree Health

Working with a certified arborist offers a distinct advantage in preparing for storms. An arborist possesses specialized knowledge in tree biology, disease identification, and pest control. Their expertise is invaluable for:

• Identifying subtle signs of tree stress or disease that could compromise a tree's stability.
• Consulting on appropriate insect spraying to protect trees from infestations that weaken their structure.
• Approving tree removal when a tree poses an unavoidable risk is a requirement often stipulated by homeowners' associations in areas like Hattiesburg and Laurel.
• Planning deep-root fertilization, pruning, and planting activities that improve a tree's resilience.

Swift Response and Recovery: After-Storm Essentials

Despite the best preventative efforts, severe storms can still cause considerable damage. When trees fall or branches scatter, you'll need prompt and efficient cleanup.

Nobody ever thinks their trees are going to fall—until an EF-2 or EF-3 rolls through town—and that's when power lines go down, water lines get damaged, and vehicles are inoperational. We haven't forgotten the tornado strikes from just a few months ago that left a trail of destruction across the state—so be prepared!

If your property has trees that could fall, keep an emergency tree removal service on speed dial. Work with a service that offers removal, chipping, mulching, and debris removal services to help restore order to your property. You'll also want a tree services company that's equipped with a fleet of forestry chip bed trucks, bucket trucks, skid-steer loaders, and chippers to maximize efficiency during post-storm operations.

Professional tree care is an investment in safety, so call in tree care professionals who know what it's like to work in Hattiesburg. Stay safe!