Getting Your Trees Ready for Hurricane Season in the Rio Grande Valley

Last updated: October 26, 2026

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with its peak around September 10. The Valley doesn't need a direct hit to lose trees, as Hurricane Hanna showed.

What Hurricane Hanna did to Valley trees

Hanna came ashore on Padre Island on July 25, 2020, well north of the Valley, and still caused heavy damage here. The National Weather Service in Brownsville recorded gusts of 63 mph in Harlingen, 60 mph in McAllen and 54 mph at the Edinburg airport. Rain totals reached about 12 inches at some gauges in McAllen and Harlingen. The result: tens of thousands of downed limbs, hundreds of snapped or uprooted trees, and at least 250,000 customers without power.

The International Society of Arboriculture lists the warning signs of a tree likely to fail: dead branches, decay, cracks and leaning, among others. Those are the trees to deal with before the season.

Before the season: a checklist

In spring or early summer:

• Remove dead branches, especially over the roof, the driveway, the cars and the power lines.
• Check big trees near the house for cracks, mushrooms or soft wood at the base, and new leaning. See signs a tree is dying or dangerous.
• Clean up palms: remove fully brown fronds and loose seed pods so they don't become flying debris.
• Trim branches touching the roof so wind doesn't drag them across the shingles.
• Report branches near lines to your electric company early; don't trim them yourself.
• Take photos of your trees and yard. They help with insurance claims after a storm.

What not to do:

• Don't top trees or cut them back hard "to be safe." Tree experts list topped trees among the warning signs of a weak tree.
• Don't give palms a "hurricane cut." Palm specialists at the University of Florida found that palms stripped to a few fronds were more likely to lose their crowns in hurricanes.
• Don't remove healthy trees out of fear. Have a pro look at them first.

When a storm is coming

• Move or tie down patio furniture, pots and anything that could be thrown around.
• Park cars away from large trees if you can.
• Don't climb or cut trees yourself in the rush before a storm. Leave tree work to a crew with the right gear.

After the storm: safety first

1. Look up and look around. Hanging limbs, split trunks and leaning trees can fall without warning.
2. Stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them. Call 911 and your electric company. See trees near power lines.
3. Take photos of the damage before anything is moved.
4. Call your insurance company if a tree hit your house, garage or other covered structure.

Can the tree be saved?

Texas A&M guidance for storm-damaged trees:

• Probably keep it if at least half of the crown is left and the trunk isn't split.
• Wait and see if it lost its main top or has some large wounds. It may recover, but it may grow misshapen.
• Probably say goodbye if more than half the crown is gone or the trunk is split.

When you keep a tree, remove only the damaged limbs. Texas A&M warns against pruning too heavily.

Hiring help after a storm

Texas A&M's advice is simple: don't hire just anyone who shows up at your door after a storm. Before you agree:

• Ask for proof of insurance for workers and for damage to your property.
• Get a written price that says what's included: stump, hauling, cleanup.
• Don't pay everything up front.
• Be careful with anyone who says the tree must be topped or that every tree has to go.

Sources

• NOAA – Atlantic hurricane season hits its peak
• NWS Brownsville – Hurricane Hanna
• Texas A&M – Can These Trees Be Saved? (PDF)
• UF/IFAS – Pruning Palms
• Texas Trees Foundation – How to hire an arborist

Related

• Tree trimming
• Tree removal
• How often to trim palm trees

Tree service in McAllen, Edinburg and Harlingen.

Get your trees ready before the next storm

Call and talk to a local tree pro about a pre-season check.