Q.Lightning Damage
We have a very large tulip poplar, which was very healthy before lightning struck it last week. The lightning strike started at a knot in the tree where a branch had been pruned years ago. The lightning damage then ran down the large trunk of the tree to the ground from the knot, leaving about a 3-4 inch strip of removed bark and exposing the internal part of the tree. The trunk of the tree is about 4-5 feet in circumference. Will this tree heal itself? Is there anything special in the way of treatment that we need to do to help it survive?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It should be able to survive. Keep an eye on the wound, but do not seal it. Sealing it can trap disease into the wound. Treat the wound with a fungicide every could of months to help keep out rot and keep a sharp eye out for insects. If you see insect activity in the wound, treat it immediately. Over time, the tree will heal the wound, though there may be a scar.
