Things To Do If a Lightning Strikes Your Tree

by | Nov 18, 2022 | Arborist

Do you have a tree that has been struck by lightning? According to studies, around 9 million lightning strikes happen every single day. Though most of them occur in rural areas, others happen in residential areas. However, it can cause severe damage when lightning strikes a tree.?? 

Thus, if your tree is struck by lightning, what should you do? Should you ignore it? Should you call an?arborist Sunshine Coast?professional?? 

Always Examine the Damages After? 

The first thing you should do is to check for damage. Lightning is a strong natural force that can damage complex objects. This includes trees.?? 

The lightning’s temperature is around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, it immediately converts any moisture inside a tree into steam. This leads to an internal explosion.? 

A couple of trees will die right away after being hit by lightning. On the other hand, some might survive.?? 

That’s why you have to check the tree for damage while keeping a safe distance. You should look for where the lightning strike happened and the extent of the damage.?? 

You will probably have to get rid of the tree if the lightning strikes at the trunk’s base, leading to a massive split through the middle. Meanwhile, you can restore the tree if a lightning strike happens on 1 or 2 branches.?? 

Tree Restoration 

You’ve got to water a tree if you want to restore it after getting hit by lightning. As mentioned above, lightning strikes convert moisture inside the tree into steam. The steam inside the tree will create intense pressure. This will often result in a massive explosion.?? 

You could restore the tree if the tree only suffered minor damage from the lightning hit. However, you will have to provide it with a lot of water.? 

Aside from watering the tree, you must also consider cutting down any damaged branches. Getting rid of the damaged branches will not harm or kill the tree as long as the trunk is left intact. If the branches are too high for you to reach, hire a professional arborist.?? 

Tree Removal 

You must remove the tree from your lawn if the damage is severe. Allowing dying or dead trees to go neglected generates a safety threat for you and everyone else around the property. The tree’s integrity will become compromised as it starts to rot from the inside. It might fall over even if it looks structurally safe.?? 

You can guarantee the tree will not fall over if you get rid of the tree. You might also be able to harvest the tree for firewood simultaneously.? 

There are a lot of ways to cut down a tree. However, it will require a lot of tools. If you do not have the experience or tools to cut down a tree safely, you should hire a professional tree service company to help.? 

A professional tree removal company can help you get rid of the tree safely. They have all the tools and skills needed to properly remove the tree from your property.