Purdue Extension has several publications that can help you learn proper pruning techniques, as well as how to find a professional arborist. You can always take a wait and see approach, as long as the tree does not appear to pose a danger to people or property. So while they may not die immediately from a lightning strike, the damage can continue to take a toll over several months or years. But damaged trees will also be more susceptible to insect pests, disease, decay and environmental stress. We’ve all seen examples of trees that live for years with extensive injury. In many cases, it just cannot be accurately predicted. An arborist can also help you assess if the tree will continue to pose a hazard and should be removed.Įverybody wants to know if their tree will die from the injury. Large limbs that cannot be safely reached from the ground call for a certified professional arborist. Once the storm has passed and it is safe to assess the damage, the first priority is to determine whether the tree poses a hazard to people or property. Photo Credit – Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory Lightning strike damage stripped tree bark If the surface of the bark is soaked with rain, the current may travel outside the trunk, resulting in less damage. Some trees may explode from the center of the tree, while others may have a narrow, but long, split in the trunk. The electrical current creates intense heating, often resulting in the bark virtually exploding off in large strips. The shock could have caused a fatal heart. Emma Eggler, 18, said doctors told her she was 'very lucky' to be alive, as the lightning strike narrowly missed her heart. Moist tissues, which are vessels for water and carbohydrates just inside the tree bark, are better conductors of electricity than the drier wood in the center of the tree. A college freshman was struck by lightning on the first day of classes and survived despite a close call with her heart, local news stations WEAR-TV and WKRG reported this week. And the same tree can be hit more than once. Lightning can strike just about anything tall, but trees do seem to be a frequent target. There are many variables to consider, including the species, moisture content, relative health of the tree at the time of the strike, and the intensity of the strike. When lightning strikes a tree, it will most certainly leave a calling card, but it can be difficult to predict whether that injury is strike one, two or three. Photo Credit – Mike Mickelbart, Purdue University
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