Editor's note: This post was originally published on July 18, 2016, and has been updated for accuracy and relevance.
Preparing your Baton Rouge yard for hurricane season helps protect your outdoor furniture, patio, outdoor kitchen, and landscaping from high winds and falling debris. A few early-season tasks, including trimming trees, organizing storage, and gathering protective materials, can make storm preparation faster when a named storm approaches.
South Louisiana homeowners often focus on protecting the inside of the house, but the outdoor space should not be neglected. If you have invested in outdoor living, taking steps to protect that investment is just as important.
How Should You Prepare Trees and Landscaping for Hurricane Season?
You should inspect and trim weak tree limbs, overgrown branches, and vulnerable foliage before hurricane season is underway. Removing potential hazards early can reduce the risk of branches falling onto your patio, furniture, outdoor kitchen, or home during high winds.
Walk through your yard and look for:
- Dead, weak, or hanging tree limbs
- Branches extending over patio furniture or an outdoor kitchen
- Overgrown trees or shrubs that could break or fall in strong winds
- Loose landscaping materials that could blow into windows or outdoor features
If a branch appears too weak to withstand hurricane-force winds, have it removed before a storm is on the radar. Early trimming gives you more time to make thoughtful decisions instead of rushing through a storm checklist.
Where Should You Store Patio Furniture Before a Hurricane?
Patio furniture, umbrellas, bar stools, chaise lounges, and other movable outdoor items should have a designated storage location before hurricane season begins. Having a plan in place allows you to secure your yard quickly when a named storm is headed toward Baton Rouge.
Anything that is not bolted down can become a projectile in high winds. Make sure you have room in a shed, garage, storage room, or another protected area for:
- Outdoor chairs and bar stools
- Chaise lounges
- Side tables and lightweight décor
- Cushions and accessories
- Patio umbrellas
Patio umbrellas deserve special attention. Even when closed, they can catch wind and cause damage. Store them indoors whenever possible.
Custom outdoor installations can help make certain features more permanent. Fire pits, patio tables, and outdoor kitchen components may be designed or installed to remain in place, but movable pieces still need to be secured or stored.
What Supplies Can Protect an Outdoor Kitchen or Patio Table During a Storm?
Plywood, fasteners, and tie-down materials can help protect glass tabletops and granite outdoor kitchen countertops from falling branches and windblown debris. Buying these supplies before a storm is approaching helps you avoid last-minute shortages and gives you time to prepare properly.
When a storm is in the forecast, supplies such as generators, gas, bottled water, and lumber often become harder to find. Consider keeping enough materials on hand to cover vulnerable outdoor surfaces.
The biggest areas to protect include:
- Glass patio tabletops
- Granite outdoor kitchen countertops
- Other fragile decorative surfaces
For a glass patio table, place a piece of plywood over the surface and secure it with tie-downs or another appropriate fastening method. The same approach can help protect granite countertops. Granite is more durable than glass, but a falling limb can still cause expensive damage.
Covering these surfaces does not guarantee that nothing will break, but it can significantly reduce the risk.
Why Is It Better to Prepare Your Yard Before a Named Storm Approaches?
Preparing your yard at the beginning of hurricane season gives you more time to focus on immediate safety needs when a named storm approaches. Instead of cleaning out storage areas, shopping for supplies, or making rushed landscaping decisions, you can secure your outdoor space with a clear plan.
Early preparation can provide greater peace of mind during an already stressful time. Once a storm is in the path of South Louisiana, you will still have a separate checklist to complete, but these early steps can help you protect the outdoor space you have worked hard to create.
If you need help planning a more durable, functional outdoor living area for your Baton Rouge home, the Casual Creations team is here to help.
