51% UTC at risk due to hurricanes, rainy season: Gainesville, FL

The peak time for tree damage is the summer months because of the hurricane season and the rainy season. | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, FL
By Tatiana Gonzalez
Correspondent

Published: Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 31, 2009 at 10:32 p.m.
Trees are a celebrated part of Gainesville's beauty but also can be a hazard if not treated properly.
The peak time for tree damage is the summer months - hurricane season, the rainy season - the busiest time of year for tree services, according to certified arborist and owner of Gator Tree Services Anthony Dobosiewicz.
Rain softens the ground, which in turn causes roots to loosen, Dobosiewicz said.
Add wind or a top-heavy canopy and trees are prone to break or uproot completely.
'The rain is a contributing factor,' Dobosiewicz said. 'But the wind is what brings them down.'
Gainesville has a tree canopy coverage of almost 51 percent, well beyond the 40 percent coverage recommended by the International Society of Arborculture, according to a study done by the University of Florida's School of Forest Resources and Conservation.
Tree canopy coverage was at about 60 percent only 10 years ago, according to the study, which cited Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, site clearing for development, tree removals and general canopy maintenance as the reasons for the decrease.