Hurricane-Season Lawn Prep for the North Shore
The lawn work that helps before a storm happens in May — not the week a system enters the Gulf. Here is the practical checklist.
Every year in Slidell the first named storm of the season catches somebody off guard. After nearly two decades of cleaning up after them, we can tell you that most preventable lawn mess gets decided long before the storm shows up. Here is what we check and what you should check before June.
The lawn itself
A well-maintained lawn handles a storm better than a neglected one. Deep roots hold soil. Thick turf keeps the ground from rutting under crew boots and debris. A thin, scalped lawn with exposed soil turns into a mud bath the week after a hurricane.
- Raise the mowing height going into June. Taller grass means deeper roots and better moisture retention. - Skip last-minute lawn treatments. A stressed lawn heals slower after storm damage. - Address any bare patches now. Plug or patch them before the ground softens.
Drainage — the single biggest thing
The North Shore does not flood because of rainfall. It floods because water has nowhere to go. Before June, walk your property after a normal thunderstorm and note where water stands for more than an hour. Those are the spots that will become pools in a hurricane.
- Clear all downspout extensions and make sure they drain away from the foundation. - Check French drains — they clog. A section that worked last year may be packed with oak roots by now. - Note low spots and send photos to a drainage or grading specialist if water regularly stands near the home.
Hardscape and loose items
- Driveway furniture, planters, pots — know what you will move and where. Plan the Saturday, not the Friday night. - Gutters and gutter guards — clean. A blocked gutter during a hurricane is not a small problem; it can buckle a roof edge.
What we do not touch
We do not top or structurally prune trees, install landscaping, spread mulch, lay sod, grade lots, or sell chemical lawn programs. For those jobs, book a properly licensed specialist early — by the week of a storm, the good ones are full.
A short pre-season list worth keeping
- Raise mowing height - Skip last-minute lawn treatments - Clear gutters and drains - Walk the property after a normal rain and note low spots - Plan what furniture moves, and where - Book licensed specialists in May if you need tree, drainage, or other non-lawn-care work
Storm prep is not dramatic work. It is the quiet kind — the kind a good lawn-care routine supports every year without fanfare. If your property has not had that kind of attention recently, now is the time.
Need help choosing the right mowing schedule or getting a lawn back on route? Pro Cuts provides weekly and bi-weekly lawn care across St. Tammany Parish.