we had a 30 min. storm yesterday and lightning hit this tree. It peeled a strip of bark from the very top of the tree, all the way to the base. Is this a death sentence? It is an old tree, over 70 ft tall.
Will lightning kill my oak tree?
Hard to say yet, but the risk of immediate death is fairly low. Trees with strips blown off like that often still go on living a long time, but sometimes they can die quickly, maybe if the heating cooked the bark all way round the trunk rather than just down the main strip.
In the longer term, the tree may get decay as a result of the damage, which could result in its becoming dangerous in the future, but that's not likely to be a worry for something like the next 20-30 years. You might want to think about planting a new tree nearby so it is a good size when the old one does have to come down for safety.
Resin
thanks resin. I went googling and found two links that support what you said. The level of damage on my tree is not a mortal wound but being that Houston is a humid environment that encourages insects, bugs might bore into the tree and do irreparable damage, if not kill it altogether. Still, this would not be an immediate occurrence.
scroll halfway down the page for good info: http://www.forestpests.org/gfcbook/urbantree.html
This message was edited Aug 14, 2009 9:25 AM
the 2nd link shows examples of trees struck by lightning. Mine is not nearly as severe as the ones shown here, whew, maybe my beautiful tree will survive this.
http://weatherscapes.com/album.php?cat=lightning&subcat=trees
I hope this helps other people. I was under the impression that when lightning struck, trees split and fell, end of story. Not necessarily. The peeled bark, in varying degrees, is more likely. Overall health of trees, insect activity, subsequent strikes, will make a difference.
Thanks Resin.
It could have been a lot worse . . . take a look at this one! http://www.pinetum.org/lightning.htm
Resin
yep, could have been worse
Good luck, Vossner - hope it pulls through for you.
TY
Post a Reply to this Thread
More Trees, Shrubs and Conifers Threads
-
I believe my Pine Tree is dying
started by Jaguar18
last post by Jaguar18Oct 04, 20233Oct 04, 2023 -
Apple tree fungus/disease
started by Maxwell175
last post by Maxwell175Mar 25, 20241Mar 25, 2024 -
I have a tree that has badly deteriorated bark
started by BigRich1950
last post by BigRich1950Apr 24, 20241Apr 24, 2024 -
American Yellowwood - Perkins Pink toxic?
started by KayCisko
last post by KayCiskoMay 08, 20240May 08, 2024 -
Planting Trees - Complimentary tree?
started by KayCisko
last post by KayCiskoMay 09, 20240May 09, 2024