lightning hits tree

Geo-TH,In · Jun 12, 2017

Last year I noticed my crimson king maple had a few dead branches and a hole in trunk. I hate to cut the tree down. It came with property 40 years ago. Been watering and fertilizing tree, but really don't think there much hope.

Beside cutting it down which it only a matter of time, any ideas how to save it?
geo

Steve in VA · Jun 12, 2017

I'm passingly familiar with maples re-sprouting from a cut stump so did a bit of searching. Seems the opinions and results are mixed. "yeah. maybe". I'm afraid the lighting has trashed the root so even cutting with the hope of regrowth may not work out. I can appreciate holding on to a tree that's been there that long. I guess in your shoes, I'd plant another reasonably nearby and let this one go as long as it can. Maples are pretty fast growers so by the time you actually have to drop this one, the new one may be of good size.

kcm.MN · Jun 12, 2017

I think Steve summed things up best. There's virtually no hope for the tree as-is. Over time, the tree will have an increasingly more difficult time putting out leaves, and it's the leaves that help it stay strong. Eventually, it will die and rot right where it stands.

If lightning wouldn't go to ground, then there might be a chance. But then if the roots were unharmed, the tree would have been able to heal over its wound. That's not happening.

We lost one at our last place for the same reason. Looked nice and healthy for a couple of seasons after the strike (other than the damaged spot), then started going downhill fairly quickly.

JMOR · Jun 12, 2017

Two years ago a sycamore about 12 feet outside my cabin door (me sitting at open door enjoying the rain) was hit by lightening, traveled down trunk, into root growing under concrete pato, erupted up through concrete showering picnic table & everything else with rock/cement, leaving crater in patio. Talk about loud & bright! Though for sure tree would be a goner, but it still looks about normal for last two seasons, except for a lot of little branches trying to grow out of trunk at about 5 feet up.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 12, 2017

Steve,
I'll never plant a maple tree unless it's a crimson king or Japanese maple. The tree is about 50 years old. Unlike a sugar maple, this tree is relatively small.

In 1991 the only way the Boss would allow me to put a 24x26 master bedroom/bath I had to pay big bucks to have a tree mover come in and move the tree, $350. Boss passed in 2000, so tree is a little special to me and my two kids.

I'm with you, it going to have a slow death. It's not a liability in present state, but when it is, it's coming down.

Don't think I'll live long enough to plant another and see it this size.
geo

Cmore · Jun 12, 2017

That tree is 40 years old??? Must be in some pretty poor soil....,not very big and it's s goner!! Cmore

Steve in VA · Jun 12, 2017

copy. I'm with you.

D beatty · Jun 12, 2017

Last year we lost a purple leafed ash and have start a hard maple in its place. I have a 45 year old hard maple in the back that one side of it is dieing and never hit by lighting. Like you said at our age we will never see the replacement tree get to any size.

Brown Swiss · Jun 12, 2017

Must have a lightning conductor in it like our black walnuts have here!

Texasmark1 · Jun 12, 2017

I had it hit a 20 year old Pecan about half that diameter one night. The tree was about 50' from the bedroom window and the flash came through the window as did the BOOM. I swear the wife jumped a foot off the bed totally horizontal screaming "I'm hit, I'm hit". She wasn't hit but it scared her.

I cut it down year before last after about 15 years of growing new bark and all. I wanted it down on my terms not it's since it was close to the house and driveway. I did concrete it up at the base which helped and kept the ants out of it. Concrete who knows, ants yes it helped. Ants kill most of the trees around here that die.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 13, 2017

Cmore,
My tree is about 50 years old and 40 ft tall which is normal for a crimson king. I agree, good chance it's a goner. Going to water, fertilize and trim off the dead branches I can get to.

Here are the facts of a crimson king.

Regular maple trees can only give you brilliant color in fall, while the Crimson King shows off it's beautiful purple leaves all summer long.

Crimson King Maples are known for their striking, rich purple foliage in colder climates... being one of the few trees to give you excellent color in the northern states.

It doesn't matter what soil you plant your trees in... your Crimson King Maples will give you beautiful color anywhere.

These trees will give you long lasting color. They keep their purple foliage from spring until fall!

Matures to a height of 40-50 ft., the perfect height for a shade tree. Your Crimson King Maple will give you dense shade, blocking the hot sun from your home and yard.

Easy to plant. Your trees will adapt to a variety of soil types and growing conditions.

lightning hits tree

Geo-TH,In

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Steve in VA

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kcm.MN

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JMOR

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Geo-TH,In

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Cmore

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Steve in VA

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D beatty

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Brown Swiss

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Texasmark1

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Geo-TH,In

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