Lightning struck tree, can it be saved?

jannie

Very Large Walnut tree was struck by lightning. I Noticed large piece of bark on ground and at first thought that was the only damage. Then noticed crack in the tree. I would like to try to save if possible. There was a cable in the tree put by the previous owner (years ago) and must have been struck there - traveled to the otherside and then down. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you. I will try to get pictures here.

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Eric Frei

Lightning strikes and trees

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jannie

I looked, however, that large live oak pictured later.. had a deeper (appears like) cut in the trunk and chunk out. The picture with the man in front of the tree is closer to the way my tree looks. According to what I read where the bark got blown off (assumed that was the direct hit where the cable was attached - put in over 25 years ago.) should have had something done immediately as bateria and bugs started to get in. I thought with cuts the tree would cover over and "repair itself". Guess it doesn't work that way with bark. It appears there is different ideas among the posters.
It's spring here and the walnut tree just started to leaf out. I understand if the leaves on the large branches start to die that it is gone. It seems like from what I understand where the lightning travelled down that water can get water in -- I would think it'd be like a "wound" and heal over, but I guess not.
It's been 2 days since the lightning strike in fact I didn't even realize (except I heard a large crack), until I found a piece of bark laying about 20 feet from the tree.
I have a call to a local arborist, but it will probably be awhile before they are able to get to me.

jannie

I Have a stupid question.... Could a person shape the tree --- take off some of the upper growth (not top it). And, to be on the safe side place a binding around the trunk to keep it from splitting. From a novice point a view it doesn't look that bad -- in fact if someone hadn't pointed it out to me I would have never noticed - except for the bark being missing.

Ted

"Only questions not asked are stupid" I would put the tree down and move on based on the pics if it could surrive it would be a accident waiting to happen in the future esp with next years winter. Cutter her down.

Brent Ferris

I am concerned about the lowest fork, from the pic it looks decayed, but a closeup would help. If it is decayed, as "Robstar" put it, it is an accident waiting to happen,. The local arborist can give you a better idea up close,

If it is not decayed, the tree will eventually grow over the crack, and the bark will cover the whole area. But the result is not instantaneous. It takes several months, possibly years. Outside there is a crack, but inside there may be extensive tissue damage that the tree has to contend with, before "healing" the outside can happen.

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jannie

Update: Actually the "forK" was not decay but the way the pictured looked.
Arborist came and said "wait & see". Since the walnut tree had just started to leaf out that was better, because the sap wasn't further up. The cable that was there *where the lightning came in) was still tight & fine (been there over 28 years). It may heal -- we'll see more for sure maybe next year.

Thank you the site.