Seasons in the Sun: Adapting Tree Care Strategies to Tampa’s Climate

Florida is known for its sunny climate, enticing visitors to bask along sandy beaches and even settle down in this tropical paradise. But a touch of shade can balance the endless sunshine and bring much-needed relief from scorching heat.

Jacques Brel’s classic song Seasons in the Sun tells the story of a dying man biding farewell to loved ones who have shared his life. The song’s themes include happy recollections and regrets, and the reminder that dreams may not always come true.

Wind Resistance

Trees are a vital component of Tampa’s landscape and play a crucial role in buffering against the heat, humidity, and rain associated with our tropical climate. They shade homes, reducing energy costs during the hot and muggy Tampa summer; provide wind barriers to protect gardens, yards, and properties from high winds; and soak up stormwater, reducing runoff and flooding in low-lying areas. Regular tree service is essential to ensure their health and longevity, promoting a thriving urban ecosystem that benefits both residents and the environment.

The type of tree, age and condition, planting site location and conditions during a hurricane all influence whether trees survive or fall during a storm. For example, species with low wind resistance are prone to falling during a storm and should be replaced with a native Florida-friendly species that is more likely to survive, such as sand pine, pecan, water oak or laurel oak in north Florida; and queen palm, gumbo limbo, Australian pine, or melaleuca in south Florida.

The podocarpus is a tough tree with great wind resistance. Its unique leaves are a perfect accent to any yard in the City of Tampa, including the luxurious Davis Island properties and classic South Tampa neighborhoods.

Water Retention

Keeping soil moisture at optimal levels is important for tree health and resilience to drought. Maintaining a diverse landscape of native trees and shrubs can help ensure adequate water retention, especially during dry periods.

Crape myrtle trees are a popular accent tree that thrives in Tampa’s climate. They are salt tolerant, green year-round and offer showy summer flowers. However, they need regular watering and should not be over-watered, as this can lead to root rot and weaken the tree in the long run.

Prior to releasing the song “Seasons in the Sun,” Jacks had already enjoyed significant success as half of the duo The Poppy Family and was friendly with The Beach Boys, who asked him to produce a song for them that would feature their harmonies. Jacks played them his arrangement of “Seasons in the Sun,” and it quickly became a worldwide hit. The song’s lyrics evoke themes of love, friendship and mortality that resonate with many.

Leaf Cover

The right choice of shade trees can reduce summer heat and smog levels. That is why city leaders are calling for residents to plant more of them.

Some neighborhoods have seen their tree canopy disappear over the past decade. Lower-income and Hispanic areas have less tree cover than wealthier ones. This can hurt their residents, as the lack of shade means that they suffer from more extreme heat exposure.

A good option for a flowering tree in Florida is hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). This tropical accent flower thrives in warm weather and produces eye-popping blooms all year round. It is salt tolerant and requires only occasional watering and fertilization.

Another good shade-producing tree is cassia (Cassia oliva). It grows quickly and is green year-round with an unmistakable bright yellow color. It is a good choice for a shade garden or poolside area. Its flowers are fragrant and attractive when they are in full bloom. Its unique ability to grow in the shade makes it a valuable addition to any Tampa yard.

Fire Resistance

It’s a steamy July day, and along South MacDill Avenue in West Tampa, Javonne Mansfield stares up at the sky, wishing for a breath of cloud cover. She’s on the first shift of a 10-hour job fixing traffic lights, and she’s soaking wet from beads of sweat pouring down her face.

Compared to a wealthy neighborhood, low-income neighborhoods have lost more of their trees to development and tree removal. And they’ve suffered a more recent loss as older trees die or are cut down for construction projects, according to a 2021 study by the city.

But it’s not just about shade and cooling—a tree’s ability to withstand wind and other weather events can help with climate resilience too. Rob Northrop, an extension forester with the University of Florida, says that Florida natives like crape myrtles are popular because they thrive in the state’s hot climate and have impressive wind resistance. That makes them more likely to keep their branches during a storm and less likely to fall on houses or cars.