Re: Pictures of plants before and after freeze at my house
Posted by Chris in Tampa on 1/11/2010, 10:44 pm
I've always thought some aspects are pretty good. Like even around the garage perhaps. We have some palm trees right next to the house that my dad is slowly taking down because they are too close to the house and there is an incurable palm tree disease that up until recently was killing all of our palms. We lost at least 12 or 15 full grown trees from it. Those three in the median grew from seeds from other ones just like the other two in the median.

One bad thing about our house is the back:

We have an overhang we really wish we didn't have. Our grape fruit tree, which for some reason lately has been looking awful just like my neighbors, well before the freeze, used to be big enough that it kind of did provide a screen of sorts to part of it. But now this overhang which sticks out probably a foot and a half and faces south toward a canal could allow a hurricane that passes north of our house, and also would provide the greatest surge, more access to damaging the roof. To protect, a little, from that, my dad has developed a way to secure that part of the roof into giant metal screws in the ground by cables that can be put out when needed.

My dad did cut some of the big rubber tree down that we have that was hanging over the screen enclosure in case that tree ever fell. It may have taken out part of the house if it ever fell during a hurricane. Already it would more than wipe out the screen enclosure in a bad hurricane. But it does have a good purpose in that regard. If it did collapse and take out the screen it would greatly protect the house in the back. Another weak spot is a two story patio inside our screen enclosure. If wind got below it there would be another weak spot in the back.

The front has a lot of protection though, except for a large window we have next to our front door, but there is small plants around that might lessen the danger a tad. But for powerful storms my dad has wood cut for every window and door.

We live so close to the water though, it would likely be water that would take us out first. We're between 8 to 9 feet above sea level. Tropical Storm Frances gave us a 4 foot surge, so about half way. Clearly, it doesn't take much.
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Pictures of plants before and after freeze at my house - Chris in Tampa, 1/11/2010, 12:29 am
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