It’s one of the most common sights in Sanford right before a storm makes landfall: neighborhoods filled with the sound of chainsaws as everyone rushes to cut back dead branches.
While trimming your trees is a great way to protect your roof, doing it right before a storm hits actually creates a massive safety hazard for you and your neighbors.
Here is why timing is everything when it comes to yard maintenance, and how a well-intentioned weekend project can quickly go wrong.
🚫 The Problem: The Logistical Bottleneck
Our Public Works solid waste crews work tirelessly to keep our city clean, running regular routes to pick up yard waste. However, when a storm enters the Gulf or a Watch is issued, two things happen simultaneously:
Massive Surge: Thousands of households suddenly cut down tons of branches all at once, overloading the normal collection capacity.
Operations Freeze: For safety reasons, heavy collection trucks must pull off the roads and suspend operations hours before tropical-storm-force winds arrive.
If you trim your trees forty-eight to seventy-two hours before landfall, those branches will almost certainly sit on your curb through the entire storm.
💨 Loose Piles = Neighborhood Projectiles
During a hurricane, high winds don’t just snap living branches—they pick up whatever is loose on the ground. A heavy pile of oak branches, palm fronds, or logs sitting on the curb can quickly turn into unguided, high-velocity missiles.
The Reality Check: Winds topping 70+ mph can easily launch loose yard debris through your front windows, your neighbor’s car windshield, or down the street into power lines.
🗓️ The Right Way: Trim During “Blue Skies”
To keep our community safe, follow the timeline rule:
Do it now: Trim your trees, remove dead limbs, and clear out heavy brush during calm, sunny weather early in the season. This guarantees our crews have ample time to pick up and safely dispose of the debris.
Hit the pause button: If a storm warning is officially issued for our area, stop all major trimming projects immediately. Leave the branches on the tree where they are structurally secure, rather than piling them loosely on the ground.
By tackling your landscaping early, you protect your own property from falling limbs and ensure your curb doesn’t become a launchpad during the storm.
