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Decatur, GA on Aug 09, 2012

Lightning Damage to Trees

A big lightning storm just passed through and I can't imagine that landscape trees didn't get hit. If you are one of the unlucky ones in any part of the country, I have tips on what do do after a strike. Good news: it's not always fatal!

See http://www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-...

5 Comments

Sharron W Memphis, TN

Walter, I read your Q;A about the lightning and I really like the way you think! LOL, so in another train of thought regarding helping a tree heal from a lightning strike, do you think that some of the potential for insect damage "finishing off" a tree weakened by a lightning strike could be avoided by covering the wound after removing as much of the loose bark as possible as you recommend?
I was thinking that something like the tar they use to patch roofs might be as close to tree ...»
sap as anything I could think of, and that it might help the tree retain more of it's natural sap and moisture...and block easy access to the interior wood by opportunistic insects.....do you think it would be worth trying or do you think it would just be more harmful?

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Walter Reeves Decatur, GA

I don't recommend tree wound dressings. If applied close to the interface between bark and trunk, the tar retards tree healing. Best bet is spraying area with insecticide containing bifenthrin every three months.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 1
Stephanie Odessa, FL

Thanks Walter, now I know what I've been seeing. We lost a beautiful orange tree to lighting, and a huge grandfather oak to insects, we were really sorry to lost both. One we enjoyed the fruit of and the other helped us lower our electric bills. Alas our 3rd tree we unknowing what to do we put a foam sealer in the weeping hole, it turns out it too had insects, ants, the bane of our existence. Since we did that the tree has recovered and no longer has ants. Thanks to your photos I know now what the problems were.

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Thanks Walter, That's exactly what I needed to know!

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0
Mandi Gubler Saint George, UT

Cool post! The trees at our cabin have been overtaken by pine beetles and had to be cut down, it makes me so sad!!

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 1

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Lightning Damage to Trees

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