Lightning And Your Trees - Woodland Tree Service

(Updated 9/30/25)Storm season has rolled around again, and you know what that means – we're seeing way more lightning strikes hitting trees across the area. Our phones have been ringing off the hook with worried homeowners asking what to do about their damaged trees.

Just the other day, I was out at Chickasaw Gardens Park checking out a massive Water Oak that took a direct lightning hit. And literally this morning, I spotted two Sweet Gums at an apartment complex showing clear signs of lightning damage. It's that time of year, folks.

Here's something wild to think about: the intense storms we've been experiencing lately have been knocking down or seriously damaging old trees that have weathered everything Mother Nature could throw at them for a hundred years or more. This is our new reality as the climate shifts – storms are hitting more frequently, winds are blowing harder, and when it rains, it absolutely pours. All of this contributes to trees either toppling over completely or dropping those scary-large branches that can crush whatever's underneath.

But there's an angle to climate change that probably hasn't crossed your mind. As these storm systems get more intense, we're likely going to see even more lightning activity. And guess what? That means our tallest trees are going to be in the line of fire more often than ever before.

Lightning Doesn't Play Nice with Trees

Here's a mind-blowing fact: thousands of trees get struck by lightning every single day. Think about it – trees are almost always the tallest thing around in any given landscape, and those deep root systems basically turn them into nature's own lightning rods. They're perfectly designed to channel electrical current from the sky straight down into the ground, whether they signed up for that job or not.

The taller a tree is, the more likely it becomes a lightning target. And it's not just about height – trees that have root decay or stem problems tend to get hit more frequently too. Why? Because decay makes the plant tissue wetter, and wet tissue conducts electricity way better than dry tissue.

Remember all those rules your parents drilled into your head about lightning when you were a kid? Don't hide under a tree during a thunderstorm. Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Well, from a tree's perspective, those old tall trees are basically wearing a "strike me" sign. They're the tallest objects around, so when lightning is looking for a place to go, they're often first in line.

Now, you'd think getting blasted by lightning would be an automatic death sentence for most trees, right? But here's where it gets interesting – the actual effects can be all over the map. Sometimes trees that are completely soaked from heavy rain get struck and walk away with barely a scratch. The wet bark actually attracts the strike and then channels all that heat and energy away from the tree's vital vascular tissue. Pretty clever, nature.

Trees aren't actually great conductors of electricity, which works in their favor sometimes. If the trunk is totally drenched from rain, the lightning will zip right through the water and dust coating the trunk and head straight to the ground, leaving the tree mostly unharmed. You might even see some sooty marks left behind after a strike like this. The tree? It'll look fine and keep on growing like nothing happened.

In a weird way, lightning serves as nature's quality control system – it's a way of weeding out old, sick, or structurally compromised trees. The damage can range anywhere from barely noticeable to absolutely catastrophic. And here's the kicker: trees that survive the initial strike often end up becoming vulnerable to follow-up problems like insect infestations, diseases, or wind damage later on.

What Happens During a Strike

Let's talk about just how powerful these lightning strikes actually are, because the numbers are absolutely bonkers. The amount of damage a tree sustains depends on a bunch of factors: what species it is, whether it got hit by sheet lightning or forked lightning, how wet it was at the time, and where exactly the lightning made contact with the ground and dissipated its energy.

Lightning strikes can pack up to a million volts and generate temperatures that reach a scorching 20,000°C. For a tree unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of these mega-strikes, it's basically game over. The sap inside the tree instantly transforms into steam, which can cause the tree to literally explode like something out of an action movie, or shed massive strips of wood and bark. And trust me, you really, really don't want to be standing under a tree when that happens.

The lightning bolt itself – how it behaves and what it does – directly influences how much damage a tree takes. Obviously, the more electrical current a bolt is carrying, the hotter it burns and the more destructive it becomes. Sometimes the lightning discharge spreads out in a way that causes no visible damage to the tree on the outside, but underneath the bark, it's a different story. Portions of the cambium – that's the cell tissue living just beneath the bark layer – can get completely fried. This results in what's called girdling, which eventually kills the tree.

After a Strike

Lightning injury symptoms can range from absolutely nothing visible all the way to total tree destruction. Understanding what to look for can help you figure out whether your tree needs professional help ASAP or if it might be teetering on the edge of becoming a safety hazard.

What You'll See Right Away

In a lot of cases, you might only notice minimal damage on the trunk itself – maybe some cracking or bark that's started peeling away – while underground, the roots have taken a serious beating. When this happens, you'll often see cracks in the ground around the tree that follow the path of its root system. Any small plants growing near the base of the trunk might be stone-cold dead.

Leaves can wilt immediately and die from the intense heat generated by the lightning bolt. This sudden leaf death is usually one of the first things homeowners notice after a big storm rolls through.

Structural Damage

Other times, the damage is way more obvious and dramatic. Branches might get completely sheared off, trunks can split right down the middle, or the entire tree might explode or catch fire. Sometimes lightning will nail just one side of a tree, killing the living tissue in a strip that runs along a large branch, then vertically down the trunk to the ground – or sometimes it just stops randomly a meter or two above ground level.

Lightning Scar

You'll definitely notice the lightning scar on trees when this happens, because it's super visible. The wood behind that scar typically decays over time, leaving a hollow space. But here's the cool part – trees can often recover from strikes like this, as long as the scar and subsequent decay aren't too extensive.

There's this amazing example of tree toughness at Melbourne University's Burnley Campus – they've got a gorgeous variegated elm that got struck by lightning almost 30 years ago. Plenty of experts thought it was a goner, but nope, that tree had other plans. Over the years, people watched as the long, narrow lightning scar gradually deepened while the wood decayed. But then, as more time passed, the trunk actually got broader and the scar eventually grew over completely. Today, you'd never know anything happened by looking at it – though the trunk is actually hollow on the inside, it's still strong and healthy.

Tree Anatomy & Damage Patterns

The way lightning damages trees really comes down to a variety of factors, but the anatomy and physiology of the tree itself plays a huge role in determining what happens. For instance, lightning tends to follow the grain pattern in the wood.

Spiral Damage Patterns

Trees like pine and apple have vascular tissue that's arranged in a spiral pattern. So when lightning strikes these trees, branches die in a spiral pattern going up the tree. It creates this distinctive corkscrew pattern of damage that's actually pretty useful for identifying lightning as the culprit.

Vertical Damage Patterns

Meanwhile, elm and oak trees have conducting tissue that runs vertically, so they might show branch damage on only one side of the tree. This lopsided damage pattern is characteristic of how electricity flows through these particular species' wood structures.

Bark Makes a Difference Too

Some observers have also noticed that trees with smooth bark seem to deflect lightning bolts better than trees with rough bark. In certain cases, the lightning discharge takes the path of least resistance – like through the cambium layer – burning a small channel down the trunk. This often ends up forming a ridge on the bark that you can see and feel.

Which Trees Are More Likely to Get Struck?

The location of a tree and what's happening in the environment around it can definitely influence how likely it is to get hit by lightning. The tallest tree in any group, trees hanging out near lakes or ponds or streams, and solitary trees standing alone all seem to be more likely lightning magnets.

High-Risk Trees

Trees with high resin content conduct electricity better than trees with low resin content. That means trees like pines, spruce, hemlock, and fir are way more susceptible to internal heating and – yep – explosion. The same thing goes for trees with high starch content. That's why oak, maple, ash, poplar, and tulip trees act as pretty good conductors of electricity.

From years of field observations, some trees definitely seem more susceptible to lightning than others. Many pines and other conifers tend to die after getting struck, which shows that needle-bearing trees often have a tougher time dealing with lightning damage compared to their broad-leafed cousins.

Lower-Risk Trees

On the flip side, beech and birch trees are less affected by lightning because they've got high oil content, and oil happens to be a terrible conductor of electricity. Many eucalyptus trees and oaks actually recover and stay healthy after taking a hit, showing they've got better natural resistance to electrical damage built right in.

Other Dangers

Here's where things get tricky and honestly a bit scary: lightning can cause unexpected tree deaths well after the actual strike happens. For some trees, when there's only a small lightning scar or even no visible scar at all, the tree looks totally fine – until it suddenly dies anywhere between two and twelve months later. This delayed reaction makes lightning damage particularly difficult to assess and manage properly.

Metabolic Disruption

This delayed death might happen because the strike caused some serious disruption to the tree's metabolism, or maybe because it's been unable to fight off fungal diseases or insect pests after being weakened by the strike. The tree's natural defense systems get compromised, leaving it wide open to secondary problems that eventually prove fatal.

Root System Damage

If the lightning travels to the earth through the roots, there might not be any symptoms visible above ground at all. But underground? That can be a completely different and devastating story, with potentially catastrophic damage to the entire root system. If the whole root system gets damaged, the tree can die quickly, or it might fail gradually over time as the roots decay. If only some roots get killed, the tree might decline slowly for no obvious reason, and you'll be left scratching your head wondering what's wrong.

This underground damage is particularly concerning because you can't see it just by looking at the tree. A tree might look picture-perfect above ground while its root system is severely compromised underneath, creating a dangerous situation where the tree could fail unexpectedly and come crashing down.

What You Should Do After Your Tree Gets Hit

If an unprotected tree in your yard gets struck by lightning, there's actually a decent chance it can be saved. It all depends on several factors:

• How severe the strike was
• How old the tree is
• What condition the tree was in before the strike
• Where the tree is located on your property

That last factor – location – is actually the most important one when you're deciding what to do next. If a damaged tree is hanging over your house or your kids' play area, the risk factor shoots way up. But if the tree is tucked away in a large backyard without anything particularly valuable in its potential drop zone, you've got a lot more flexibility to take the wait-and-see approach.

Immediate Safety Check

The first thing you need to do after any lightning strike is assess the immediate safety risks. Look for:

• Hanging or broken branches that could drop at any moment
• Cracks in the trunk that suggest the tree isn't structurally sound anymore
• Leaning that wasn't there before the storm hit
• Damage to overhead power lines that the tree might be touching or could fall into

Get a Professional Opinion

If you know a tree has been struck by lightning, you'd be smart to keep a close eye on it going forward. A lot of times, the really serious damage isn't immediately obvious and will only reveal itself in the weeks and months that follow. For some trees, the full impact doesn't become clear until the following spring when they either fail to recover or don't resume normal growth patterns. Getting an inspection from a qualified arborist is honestly a wise investment that could save you money and headaches down the road.

The Recovery Process

Repair plans typically include:

Pruning and removing damaged branches - This gets rid of immediate hazards and prevents additional damage from falling limbs that are just hanging there waiting to drop.

Irrigation - Lightning-damaged trees often have trouble with water uptake, so giving them some supplemental watering can be absolutely crucial for survival.

Fertilization - Providing extra nutrients helps the tree redirect its energy toward healing wounds and producing new growth.

Spraying with insecticides - Weakened trees are sitting ducks for insect attacks, so preventive treatment might be necessary to ward off opportunistic pests.

What to Watch For Over Time

The recovery process takes patience and careful observation. Some effects of lightning damage might not show up for months or even an entire growing season. Here's a timeline of what to keep an eye out for:

Immediate (0-2 weeks): Obvious structural damage, leaves wilting, bark peeling away

Short-term (2-8 weeks): Fungal infections developing, insect infestations moving in, continued leaf drop

Medium-term (2-12 months): Gradual decline in health, failure to leaf out properly when spring comes, progressive branch dieback

Long-term (1-3 years): Delayed mortality, gradual structural failure, cavity formation in the trunk

Prevention Strategies

While you can't actually prevent lightning strikes from happening – they're going to strike where they're going to strike – understanding the risk factors can definitely help you make smarter tree management decisions.

Smart Landscape Design

Avoid planting trees right up against buildings where they could cause serious damage if they get struck and come down.

Think about the mature size of trees when you're planting them near structures. That cute little sapling might grow into a massive tree that poses risks later.

Maintain proper spacing between trees to reduce the likelihood of damage spreading from one tree to another during a strike.

Lightning Protection Systems

It is actually possible to install a lightning protection system on a tree, but fair warning – they're expensive and pretty rarely installed in most residential settings. These systems work by providing a preferred path for electrical current to follow, directing it safely into the ground rather than letting it rip through the tree's tissues.

Protection systems are typically only cost-effective for:

• Exceptionally valuable specimen trees that would be devastating to lose
• Trees in areas with high lightning activity
• Trees that would cause significant property damage if they failed
• Historic or culturally significant trees

When You Need to Call the Pros

If you experience a lightning strike and need help from a certified arborist, several situations warrant getting professional help immediately:

Emergency Situations

• Trees or branches hanging over buildings, vehicles, or walkways
• Damage to power lines or other utilities (call the power company first!)
• Trees showing signs they're about to fail
• Any situation where you're questioning the tree's stability

Assessment Needs

• Any tree you suspect took a lightning hit
• Trees showing weird symptoms weeks or months after storms passed through
• Valuable trees where you want to maximize the chances of recovery
• Situations where liability concerns are significant

Treatment Requirements

• Large-scale pruning that's way beyond what a homeowner can safely handle
• Chemical treatments for pest or disease problems
• Installing structural support systems
• Root system evaluation and treatment

Professional arborists have the training and equipment to safely assess lightning damage and put together appropriate treatment plans. They can also help you understand what the long-term outlook is for damaged trees and make informed decisions about whether to try saving them or removing them.

Insurance and Documentation Tips

After lightning damage happens, proper documentation can be absolutely crucial for insurance claims:

• Take photos of the damage immediately after it's safe to approach
• Document the tree's condition before and after the strike if you possibly can
• Keep detailed records of any professional assessments or treatments you get
• Make sure you understand exactly what your policy covers regarding tree removal and property damage

Living with Lightning Risk

Lightning strikes to trees are just a natural phenomenon – one that's becoming more common as storm intensity ramps up. While we can't eliminate the risk entirely, understanding how lightning affects trees helps us make way better decisions about tree management and keeping our properties safe.

The key is finding that balance between enjoying all the amazing benefits trees provide and realistically assessing whatever risks they might pose. The truth is, most trees will never get struck by lightning in their entire lifespan. And of those that do get hit, many will survive and keep right on providing value to your landscape. But staying informed about the signs of lightning damage and working with qualified professionals when you need them ensures you can enjoy your trees safely while protecting your property and family from potential disaster.

Remember that tree care after lightning strikes isn't just about trying to save individual trees – it's about maintaining the safety and beauty of your entire landscape while adapting to these changing climate conditions we're all dealing with.

If you experience a lightning strike and need help from a certified arborist, please let us know. We're here to help you figure out the best path forward for your trees and your property.

Please email [email protected] or call us at (901) 309-6779 for any of your tree servicing needs.