Will This Tree Die?

[George Smyth]

A bit over a year ago we had two tulip poplars struck by lightning. One was sheered in half, which resulted in about 40 feet of tree that needed to be cleaned up. The other tree that was struck took the strike to ground. In doing so the lightning ripped a line of bark off the tree all the way down (picture below). When we have wind storms we end up with large chunks of bark on the ground.

I have not seen anything that shows that the tree is dying (I don't really know about these things, so that means little), but I am wondering if something this traumatic, with a line of bark missing, is enough the end the tree's life.

Thanks for your help -

george

 

[BeatCJ]

I wouldn't consider that at much of a risk. The color of the underlying wood makes me think it's been that way for several years. It also looks like the bark on the left side of the would is healing, it appears rounded.

I would be more concerned by the areas that are losing "large chunks of bark". What does the canopy look like? your description makes me think it's healthy? I also don't know much about your area, the surrounding homes. What is it going to destroy if it suddenly fails? I would try to find a reputable arborist familiar with your area and get a better evaluation than we can make from one pic on the internet. The advice you receive here is worth exactly what you pay for it.

 

[George Smyth]

I wouldn't consider that at much of a risk. The color of the underlying wood makes me think it's been that way for several years. It also looks like the bark on the left side of the would is healing, it appears rounded.

I would be more concerned by the areas that are losing "large chunks of bark". What does the canopy look like? your description makes me think it's healthy? I also don't know much about your area, the surrounding homes. What is it going to destroy if it suddenly fails? I would try to find a reputable arborist familiar with your area and get a better evaluation than we can make from one pic on the internet. The advice you receive here is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Thanks for the words. The surrounding area looks fine. We have a dozen tulip poplars in our back yard, each one about 80' high and they are all healthy. This one is in a group of six trees and the canopy looks completely fine to my untrained eyes.

 

[Bullseye T&L]

I would try to find a reputable arborist familiar with your area and get a better evaluation than we can make from one pic on the internet. The advice you receive here is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Totally agree. The open wound will never close off and the exposed wood is going to continue to decay. How fast is dependent on several things that a good local TRAQ qualified arborist could give insight on. Me personally, I'd recommend not prolonging the agony and consider having it removed. Once that exposed wood gets to a certain condition of decay, the prices will start going up, and some of the smaller outfits that do everything with a climber might not even want the job.

 

[George Smyth]

Thanks for the responses. I guess the thing to do indeed is to get someone who knows what they are doing and have then take a look.

george