Weather, Tree Damage & Mother Nature

Most gardeners are aware of NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), as we keep one eye to the sky and one to the garden with both ears listening to the weather.

NOAA tells us over the past 20 years, the U.S. has averaged 51 annual lightning strike deaths.   We have all been taught the safety measures we should take during a storm, including "take cover".

Trees are subject to whatever the storm may do to them and are frequently a conduit in sky to ground bolts.  The tree responds by the sap heating to the point that it explodes, causing bark to fly off the tree and huge splits in the tree.  




While the damage to the tree may be severe, it does not necessarily cause the death of the tree.

On May 27, a fast moving storm marched thru Hutchinson.  At around 2 AM, there was a crash loud enough to levitate most of us at least 6" off the bed, then the storm moved on.

The next morning, we realized we were victims of the crash, as our satellite dish was non-functioning.  Looking around the neighborhood, it didn't take long to find the mighty Sycamore across the street and 2' west of our driveway had been hit.  The first two pictures are on the North side of the tree and the third is the South where the sap exploded. And now we will wait to see if this stately tree will forgive Mother Nature and heal it's self....submitted by sogrowsmygarden.