City provides information on vegetation post-storm
The city of Sanibel’s Natural Resources Department reported that following Hurricane Milton, residents and property owners may have experienced vegetation impacts and are now working to clean up/remedy the landscaping on their property.
In contrast to Hurricane Ian, which brought Category 4 force winds and storm surge to the island, Milton was a smaller scale a event that included storm surge, tropical storm force winds, and very little rain following the passing of the storm’s eye. As a result, there is less structural damage to trees; however, you may have noticed that since the storm, vegetation continues to brown and drop leaves. This is likely a result of saltwater storm surge inundation/salt spray combined with a lack of rain to dilute salt deposition in the soil and wash salt spray from leaves. It is important to remember, many native plants are adapted to these type of impacts from tropical weather events. Native plants may appear dead or dying, but given time they are likely to recover.
The department provided guidance related to vegetation impacts post-storm. To view the previous information, visit https://www.captivasanibel.com/2024/10/15/city-provides-information-on-vegetation-post-storm/. Recently, the department provided the following additional related guidance:
– HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PLANTS ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY SALT?
It is not uncommon for plants to drop leaves after the stress storm surge inundation. New leaf growth is an easy way to tell if the plant continues to be impacted by salt. If the new leaf growth is a vibrant green color (or in the case of some plants such as cat’s claw red and green colored) then the plant is not suffering prolonged effects of salt. However, if new leaves are yellow (chlorotic) or have brown on the leaf margins/edges then salt is still negatively impacting the salt.
– ARE INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS IMPACTED BY SALTWATER STORM SURGE?
Yes! Most invasive exotic plants have also been stressed by the saltwater storm surge and are easier to remove/eradicate as a result. The removed plants can be placed out front in the public right-of-way to be collected by the city’s debris contractor (this should be done as soon as possible). Now is the time to take advantage of the stressed conditions of invasive exotics and the city urges residents to take the steps to do so in order to help maintain Sanibel’s natural environment.
For more information or questions regarding vegetation recovery, trimming or removal, and permitting, contact the Natural Resources Department at 239-472-3700 or sandnr@mysanibel.com.