There are some storms brewing, so I thought I would enlighten folks on some recent discoveries about the effect of lightning on trees.
When lightning strikes a tree, the biological functions of a tree are interrupted--sap boils, steam is created, and at a cellular level, the tree suffers intense damage. However, trees are amazingly resilient. If the lightning only affects a portion of a tree, it may be able to survive and close any visible wounds. Here is some key advice for homeowners.
WAIT.
International experts suggest simply monitoring the tree for potential hazards for AT LEAST A YEAR OR MORE. Internal damage cannot be assessed immediately, and sometimes damage extends to the root system. (Of course, serious external damage, like broken branches hanging precariously over your house, should be dealt with immediately.) If you go ahead and start corrective pruning too soon, you risk stressing an already stressed tree; in the worst case, you waste time and money on a tree that might die the following year, and must be removed as a hazard. The International Society of Arboriculture recommends that after the initial waiting and watching, treatments to consider include restoration pruning, water management, pest attack prevention, and bark repair, if applicable. The injury may not immediately cause structural damage, although it might serve as an "open door" for borers, decay, and future structural degradation.
Finally, if you have a very special, vulnerably placed tree (in the open, or near water), you can set up a tree lightning protection system. Or, if you are like me, you depend on trees to act as a protection system for your house
