The current forecast takes the storm near Key West Sunday night and then into eastern Gulf of Mexico. Could this become the next major hurricane? The GFS shows this going to the Florida panhandle next week!

It may not be major but itll do its damage. Tracks anymore west and beaumont may get it. Till then im tying things down. What can i do for my trees that are full of fruit if anything?

Looks like I dodged a bullet here in NW Florida!

The strong winds blew down my mango trees and today I proped them, hope they survive.

Well im glad you safe but somebody has to get it. Hopefully its not so bad i cant still head your way friday. Im ready and waiting....

redster,

I hope you, your friends, and your plants will be safe! Good luck.

Gt thanks for the well wishes. We fared well over all. No one we know had any major damage. Power is just starting to come on after 2 days. I lost 3 planks on my fence and one large branch of my sunburst which was half my tree. All total i lost 6 grapefruit 7 satsumas and 249 tangerines and zero meyer lemons...no other damage to my trees...it really was a category one storm, it just lasted entirely too long, i measured 15.5 inches of rain in my back yard, and the water damage and flooding still hasnt peaked yet in other places, it truely is unreal...

Red

Ohhhhhh and is there anything i can do for the wound on my tree? I have nearly a 6 inch strip of barkless wood thats already got a snail on it. Will it just heal in time?

see the above posts all together 262 fruit on 3 out of 4 producing trees, rest of the tree s are too young.

redster,

I am glad your damage was minimal!
Regarding the striped bark, I would cover it with the pruning compound to protect from insects and fungi. The plant may heal slower but you would protect it from more damage. However, I am not an expert by any means, so let's wait for an advise from others.

Good luck!

thx gt, ill consider it, hopefully laaz or millet can chime in tomorrow.

redster, personally I would prune it below the damage. It will re-sprout and be much stronger that way.

Here is a very good discussion on this topic pro and con.

Apparently UC Davis doesn't recommend it anymore either.

http://www.arboristsite.com/plant-health/40196.htm

I'm sure you can find other discussions and papers that swing it either way. I'll stick with my earlier statement against it. There is a place for painting to prevent sun scald which is different from an injury situation.

Just my two cents worth.