We had one of the more impressive lightning stoms I've ever seen blow in around 430 this morning. At about 6 while watching the storm with a cup of coffee the whole house was lit up pinky purple followed by ear splitting thunder. Clearly a very close strike.

Well, after trying to figure out where it hit, this oak outside the front door seems to be the spot. What can I do to maximize the chances of survival? How bad are my odds.

being so close to your house I wouldnt chance letting it be. that being said a big one like that got struck in my grandpas field about 20 years ago......1/2 of it died and the other 1/2 is still kicking to this day.

I have zero experience whatsoever. Furthermore have no idea if it would work, but I would want to strap/clamp that to see if it would mend itself back together. I suspect you would know if it was healing after several months or if this was a lame idea.

It doesn't look like it cracked it too deeply. One source that I saw online said that if the bark was already soaked the charge may stay more superficial. Here's hoping that's the case.

Also, I found bark 40-50 yards away, pretty crazy

Based on my experience with oaks, it could be 1-2 years before you will know whether it survives, or not.

Time to make one of this and try out for the team of your choice.

Not much you can do for it. My parents had the "official" largest live oak in Waller County right in their backyard. It was struck by lightning one year and eventually died. I think it took a year or two, but it had to be removed.

maybe make yourself a bat

BCO07 said:

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It doesn't look like it cracked it too deeply. One source that I saw online said that if the bark was already soaked the charge may stay more superficial. Here's hoping that's the case.

Also, I found bark 40-50 yards away, pretty crazy

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That 1st pic looks like a smoke ring on a brisket.

If you get a tree guy out, they are going to seal the exposed area and inject a chemical that keeps bugs from invading the tree. That said, oak's can be fairly tough. 50/50 odds.

Even if part of it survives it will be an eyesore in the front yard. If it were mine, I would get the chainsaw and pole saw out and start whittling it down. That long horizontal branch to the right over your House would be especially worrisome.

That tree won't survive.
Had one just like it a few years back.

A couple of months ago we had a bad storm blow thru. All of a sudden the wife and I heard what sounded like a bomb exploding in the front yard. I grabbed an umbrella and a flashlight and did a quick survey around the house- no trees on the cars or laying around the house. Didn't find anything of any significance so went to bed. The next morning my wife sent me a picture of a pine tree on the fence line with my neighbor to the south that had those streaks going down it and bark laying around in the yard- obvious lightning strike. So now the wife is worried the tree will eventually fall, hitting the house and killing us both while we sleep.

aggiedent said:

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If you get a tree guy out, they are going to seal the exposed area and inject a chemical that keeps bugs from invading the tree. That said, oak's can be fairly tough. 50/50 odds.

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Probably seal it, put in a fungicide, but maybe also add some nutrients or something else to help health. I would rec calling an arborist to do what you can.

How to Save an Oak Tree Struck by Lightening: A Guide

https://www.greentopps.com/post/how-save-oak-tree-struck-lightning-guide

Make sure to keep it well watered.

That fared much better than the pine tree that was hit at our place and caught on fire. Pretty sure its a goner.

Russ79 said:

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A couple of months ago we had a bad storm blow thru. All of a sudden the wife and I heard what sounded like a bomb exploding in the front yard. I grabbed an umbrella and a flashlight and did a quick survey around the house- no trees on the cars or laying around the house. Didn't find anything of any significance so went to bed. The next morning my wife sent me a picture of a pine tree on the fence line with my neighbor to the south that had those streaks going down it and bark laying around in the yard- obvious lightning strike. So now the wife is worried the tree will eventually fall, hitting the house and killing us both while we sleep.

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I've had the "good" luck of seeing not 1 but 2 lightening strikes to trees. Both while driving. One at night one during the day. Both were live oaks. The one at night was pretty spectacular. The whole tree was a ball of bright white light for about 2 seconds.

Spray it with a prune sealer and that's about all you can do. Lots of trees get struck by lightning and survive just fine.

Got 4" last night in heavy clay soil, so moisture won't be an issue for a while

Talked to a certified arborist this morning. He recommended some insecticide and waiting it out. Looks like one branch has some structural issues, so it'll probably have to go

My guess is that it will not make it and will take a couple of years to tell. My perception might be wrong, but it appears the tree is more heavily limbed on the side toward your house. Can't tell if it would hit your home if it fell but I would watch it and the first sign it isn't going to make it I would take it down.

Walking our family place a few years ago with my dad, we came upon a huge portion of an oak clearly out of place in the middle of some saplings. This was a piece that was too big for one guy to carry by himself. We kept walking, finding bits of tree all along the way and finally came upon an old oak that hit been struck. It had to be at least 100 yards away. I can't imagine what that looked or sounded like to send that big of a piece of tree that far.

i am a tree hugger

1. wait and see what happens before cutting it down
2. never take a tree down without planting one in its place.

I couldn't imagine. This morning it sounded like the house was coming down. At least I didn't have to fight to get the kids out of bed

My live oak got hit 4 years ago worse than that. Blew about 1/4 of the bark off the trunk. Second time it has been hit. About 1/3 of the canopy has died off, but the tree put out a ton of new growth on the rest of the tree the year after it got hit. Like almost every inch of every limb has new growth. It also started sending up tons of shoots from the roots. I almost have live oak "grass" now in my yard. Seems to be perfectly healthy now except that third of the canopy won't grow back. I was concerned that 1/4 of the bark is gone, but seems to be fine. I did spray some of that fungicide around the tree, but nothing else.

Lightning bolt was strong enough to blow out a window and fry my sprinkler system and modem, so not a small strike.

evestor1 said:

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i am a tree hugger

1. wait and see what happens before cutting it down
2. never take a tree down without planting one in its place.

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This. Don't give up on that beautiful tree.

Parents had one in Dime Box get struck.

Still loving and is considered the kids "Climbing Tree"

MW13 said:

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Walking our family place a few years ago with my dad, we came upon a huge portion of an oak clearly out of place in the middle of some saplings. This was a piece that was too big for one guy to carry by himself. We kept walking, finding bits of tree all along the way and finally came upon an old oak that hit been struck. It had to be at least 100 yards away. I can't imagine what that looked or sounded like to send that big of a piece of tree that far.

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If lightening strikes a tree and no one is around...

It didn't look like it split it so I'd be fairly optimistic. As mentioned already, I'd make sure to take exceptionally good care of it for at least a year, maybe two.

Use some of this on the root zone:




Mix it with water in a bucket and pour it on the roots. or get one of these and dip the end of the hose in your pre-mixed solution. I would do this now, and then again just before fall.



Make sure you are watering it well

Make sure it gets good fertilizer. You can use a good quality lawn fertilizer.

Awesome tree. Crazy strike! Try using the thicker/wider ratchet straps. A couple of them. This one has been struck a couple years ago and that's what saved it so far. You can see the different places that it was strapped. Hah, the tree even grew around one strap and engulfed it! Still have a little one up top but taking it down in a couple weeks.

Another problem with storm damage on oaks this time of year is the susceptibility they now have from the open wound of getting Oak Wilt, which then is a threat to the other trees in your yard and neighbors if that are close enough through the root system.

my understanding is that wilt isnt a huge issue where I am in matagorda county

We had a live oak down the street from us get nailed about 4 years ago. It was smaller and straighter but same thing, scar from way up all the way to the ground. I'd say bark blown out to maybe 20 yards into the street. They ended up with pruning spray and it looks good and hardy still.