Lightning vs. Tree - Who won?

[newcountry]

Last night my wife and I were awakened to an extremely loud clap of thunder. She thought it struck the house and it took some convincing on my part that indeed it didn't. Well, this morning, we're going out to our car and notice a bunch of small pieces of tree on our car - not branches, but small chunks of fibrous tree strands - stuck all over our car. One of our large walnut trees in our front yard had been hit by lightning! No more than thirty feet from our front porch. It's got a large chunk of bark stripped off one side and a large crack down two sides of the tree from the top (about 50 ft up) to the ground.

This is a reminder to me of the wonders of nature, but my question is what, if anything, should I do with the tree. It's one of two trees in the middle of my circle drive and I'd like to keep it. But with the proximity of it to my house, if it's significantly weakend I'd rather not take the chance of it falling in through my front door /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif!

 

[LarryD]

What do you think your insurance agent would say? What would you do if it came down on your house in the middle of the night?

Our neighbor had a tree fall across his trailer thas past winter and it cut the trailer in half, some very powerful forces. I would remove the tree for safety's sake.

 

[1948berg]

The tree will most likely repair itself, we have two old trees around the house with scars from old lightning wounds.
Maybe the tree will protect your house from beeing hit next time too.
Besides, now it has a story to tell.

 

[Jagmandave]

I think I'd have a tree expert look at it, then make a decision based on real info......I have a neighbor with a very tall pin oak that got hit, there's a large crack running down from the top and one side of the tree is pretty much dead now, but the expert said to leave it alone as the rest of the tree was healthy.

 

[MrSteve]

I am saying this without seeing a picture of the tree... I would say for you to have it removed. What you said the tree looks like I would have to say that tree has lived its last days. I really don't think it could ever make itself better after getting hit to the point of cracking, wow a 50ft crack.

 

[dmccarty]

LarryD,

I would like to see what his Insurance company says about the tree.

My FIL had two trees leaning over his house. Both where at least 18 inches in diameter. The only way to cut the trees down was to hire a crane to hold the tops while they were cut to keep from falling on the house. The insurance company would not pay for the removal.

They would pay if the trees fell on the house.

His choice was:
Sell 3 acres of timber, half of what he owns, to pay for the tree removal.

Or

Let the trees fall on the house.

He had to clear cut 3 acres to pay for the trees to be removed.

A coworker had his home insurance canceled when he had a second claim regarding trees around his house. I suggested he call the state Insurance Comminsioner which he did. He did not think it would help but his insurance was uncancled. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I hope he gets a better response than some I have seen.

Later,
Dan

 

[Michael_E_Tx]

We live on top of an iron ore hill and have many lightening struck trees in our forest. The difference between our situation and yours is that yours is a hazard tree. I have not heard of trees repairing themselves after lightening strikes, although many will exhibit an admirable will to live. Some our largest accessable trees are lightening struck trees, left by past loggers because the tops were blown out.

IMHO, the inevitable result of lightening damage cracks is rot. I have heard that Walnut rots pretty fast when cracked down the middle. I wouldn't chance it. It will be a much safer proposition to take it down now than to wait for the center of the tree to rot out, which is always a more dangerous felling job. Even if you fell the tree soon, I would wrap the trunk with chain to keep it from simply shattering and falling in directions you do not want.

You might be able to salvage some of your tree for lumber if you take it down now. To my mind's eye, a furniture or other woodworking project would be an excellent way to remember the big Walnut from the circular drive. This likelihood will diminish the longer the tree stands.

Good luck.

Michael

 

[dooleysm]

I worked for my dad for a few years during high school and college at a large cemetery. Any time a tree was struck by lightening, we went ahead and cut it down. He learned through years of lightening strikes that most trees don't survive. It's easier to just go ahead and get them out of the way before they cause other problems.

Your mileage may vary though.

 

[Fungus]

Most of the trees in our neck of the woods don’t survive when they get struck. This one (see attachment) got zapped out behind our house. Both the wife and I saw it get hit – what a show!

I ended up taking it out. I guess the only good thing was when bucking the trunk the rounds fell apart or were pre-split for me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JoeR]

If the tree is girdled (Bark missing around middle like a girdle), then it will not recover. Have an Arborist inspect it.

Joe