With storm season, comes the threat of lightning. Have you seen a tree that's been hit by lightning? It should be inspected and approached with care. A tree struck by lightning has been stressed severely, due to intense heat of the strike takes a great deal of energy from the tree.

Did you know? "Trees, because of their height, are natural lightning rods. Damage can be minimal or quite literally explosive. Since water or sap is a better conductor than wood, lightning damage is often related to the concentration of moisture in and around a tree.

For instance, if the moisture is concentrated in the phloem between the bark and the wood, then the lightning strike will follow this channel and create an explosive separation of the bark. If there is more moisture in the center of the tree, the explosion from within may blow the tree apart."

Take a look at this resource from Purdue University's Department of Forestry & Natural Resources to learn more about Trees and Lightning.

Browning Tree Service employs Joshua Browning ISA certified arborist license #KY-9849A who is a proud member of Indiana Arborist Association and International Society of Arboriculture, serving the West Lafayette and Lafayette, Indiana area!

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-FAQ-9-W.pdf