Tree Service in Punta Gorda, FL

Tree Service in Punta Gorda comes with a history few cities share. Hurricane Charley tore through on August 13, 2004, as a Category 4 with winds around 145 mph, causing massive destruction. Eighteen years later, on September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Punta Gorda at a similar strength. The National Hurricane Center's report on Ian lists a gust of 117 knots, about 135 mph, at the Punta Gorda airport weather station before it stopped reporting. Fort Myers Tree Service Pros drives 23 miles up US 41 from Fort Myers to help Punta Gorda owners take care of the trees that survived, remove the ones that didn't, and plant for the next storm.

Lessons from two storms

Trees planted after Charley were around 18 years old when Ian hit. For guidance on what holds up, UF/IFAS researchers studied how Florida trees fared in the 2004 hurricanes, Charley included. Live oaks survived Charley at a 78% rate and cabbage palms at 92%. Native species lost fewer branches than non-natives. Laurel oak, slash pine and mango rated medium-low for wind resistance, and queen palm, Washington palm, Norfolk Island pine and Australian pine rated among the lowest. If you're replanting, those lists are a good starting point, and so is giving trees room for their roots.

Canal lots

Punta Gorda Isles was created in 1959, with 55 miles of canals, each 100 feet wide and 17 feet deep. The sand dredged from those canals was used to raise the land beside them. On canal lots, trees grow in that fill, often next to seawalls, docks and pool decks. We keep stump grinders clear of seawall tiebacks, lower limbs away from the water, and pay attention to how far a tree's roots have spread under hardscape.

The historic district

The Punta Gorda Residential District is one of ten sites in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Older homes there tend to have older, larger trees, and sometimes a tree is part of what gives a street its character. If you're in the district, check whether any local review applies before removing a significant tree. Florida Statute 163.045 does exempt removal of a tree on single-family residential property when an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect documents that it poses an unacceptable risk.

A retirement town that keeps its yards up

Census QuickFacts shows 53.6% of Punta Gorda residents are 65 or older, 81.7% of homes are owner-occupied, and the median home value is $518,100. Owners here tend to want tidy work and clear answers, and many are away part of the year. We give written, itemized estimates and can schedule work around your travel.

What we handle in Punta Gorda

• Pruning live oaks and other shade trees before hurricane season
• Removing trees weakened by Charley or Ian
• Palm trimming and coconut removal on canal lots
• Stump grinding before replanting
• Advice on replacement species

Call (239) 236-3651 or use the form for a free estimate. Get a free estimate