Tips When Your Tree is Hit by Lightning

A lot of people are scared by the sound of lighting and thunderstorms. But are humans the only ones who get troubled by these things? Dogs and trees are also included in this list. Lighting can cause a lot of damage to those trees you have planted in the backyard. Although some trees can be protected from strong winds through timely pruning, when it comes to lightning, even the healthiest roots are shaken.

Homeowners do not hesitate in calling a trusted Ottawa tree trimming service. But every person who plants trees should know some important information. Let’s discuss that information today –

Reason for Trees to Get Stuck by Lightning

If there is a thunderstorm, the best solution is to take cover anywhere but under a tree! The internal moisture and tall stature of trees attract lightning. This is simply because trees conduct electricity better in comparison to the air in the surroundings.

Trees get hit by lightning if they are –

· In proximity to a water body

· In an open area

· Growing near a building

· On the hilltop or mountainside

· On the edge of a group of trees or forest

· Adorned with electric light strings

How to Know if a Tree is Hit by Lightning

Look for these signs after a thunderstorm to know whether your trees have been hit by lightning –

· There are pieces of bark shattered on the ground

· There is a fire in the tree(s)

· There are charred or burned areas on the trunk

These are some of the obvious external signs but you also have to keep an eye for internal damage signs. These internal signs can only be identified by a professional arborist. So, if you think that you should get the trees checked, it is time to call one of the best tree trimming services Ottawa has to offer.

When a Tree is Hit by Lightning

As soon as a tree is struck by lightning, it will immediately come in contact with something hotter than the sun (at least 6 times). This is because the temperature of lightning reaches up to 54 thousand degrees (F).

This type of fire is too much for some trees and they catch fire or get shattered. In other cases, the trees are not at all affected. This completely depends on certain factors.

· Lightning has the ability to travel from wet bark to the ground which will prevent the tree from getting into any danger. So, if the outer layer of the tree bark is soaked for any reason, you can relax a little.

· When lightning is able to reach the tree’s inner layers, its cells start to boil. This process of boiling will generate steam and explode which can crack the bark. It is also possible that the tree might fall off.

· If the tree is already rotted or diseased, the moisture gets accumulated deep inside the tree. In this case, the extremely heated steam travels through such a force that the tree can explode.

Survival of Tree After Lightning

1. If you think that every tree hit by lightning will be destroyed, that is not the case. A lot of trees are able to survive if only one side is showing signs of damage. In situations where the entire tree is affected by lightning, you should be prepared to pay attention to it for some time.

2. If there are any burned or damaged branches, it is time to prune them. Remove all the hanging bark pieces which you cannot put back in place. You can also provide these plants with fertilization for new growth. Remember to give trees enough water for proper development.

3. Keep an eye on the trees for at least a few months. Most of the time, trees are not killed by the striking itself. They are killed by exposure to diseases and insects due to lightning. Always consult a professional arborist to make sure that the trees are in a healthy condition.

If you properly take care of the trees and injury is not intense, trees struck by lightning can survive.

Prevention is Better than Cure

If you want to keep your trees safe from lightning, get a lightning protection system installed near the property. It slowly releases electrical charges before the lightning becomes risky for the trees around. If you think that your location is vulnerable to lightning, contact a professional arborist, and get an effective system installed today!

In the End

Save your loved ones and trees from the lightning with the help of Hedge King Ottawa. Our proper tree care tips will make sure that the lightning is not able to ruin the backyard you have planted with such a great effort. contact us today and get to know everything about your trees in detail.