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?

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1 Comment To "Lightning Damage"

#1 Comment By Heather On 08/17/2011 @ 10:48 am

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.

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