Lightning does not always kill trees when it hits; it often wounds. Trees commonly have scars caused by minor strikes which heal over and do not seriously affect the health of the tree. What should you do if one of your trees takes a hit like this one? The answer depends on the location, possible targets, and your reasons for growing your trees. This fresh wound is on a black oak, which may now become infected with the oak-wilt fungus. The tree will die if that happens so there will be no decision to make in that instance. If the tree survives, it will begin decaying. If there are targets within reach of a tree with damage this severe, you should cut your losses and remove it in the near future.
This white oak was hit several years ago, and rot is progressing nicely in this tree. It is located in timber far away from any high value targets, and though it is now worthless as timber, it is still valuable for wildlife food, seed to regenerate this stand in white oak, and for wildlife dens.
It is not crowding any future crop trees, so it still has a positive benefit balance, and is not hazardous to anyone unless they stand under it in a storm. Even though it is in bad physical shape, it will be left in the stand. If this tree happened to be in a park, next to a house or next to a high value tree, it would need to be cut.
Lightning does not always kill trees when it hits; it often wounds. Trees commonly have scars caused by minor strikes which heal over and do not seriously affect the health of the tree. What should you do if one of your trees takes a hit like this one? The answer depends on the location, possible targets, and your reasons for growing your trees. This fresh wound is on a black oak, which may now become infected with the oak-wilt fungus. The tree will die if that happens so there will be no decision to make in that instance. If the tree survives, it will begin decaying. If there are targets within reach of a tree with damage this severe, you should cut your losses and remove it in the near future.
This white oak was hit several years ago, and rot is progressing nicely in this tree. It is located in timber far away from any high value targets, and though it is now worthless as timber, it is still valuable for wildlife food, seed to regenerate this stand in white oak, and for wildlife dens. 
It is not crowding any future crop trees, so it still has a positive benefit balance, and is not hazardous to anyone unless they stand under it in a storm. Even though it is in bad physical shape, it will be left in the stand. If this tree happened to be in a park, next to a house or next to a high value tree, it would need to be cut.
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