Question guide
Tree Struck by Lightning: What Now?
Updated · Limbwright editorial
Short answer
First make sure nothing is smoldering and that no split limbs are hanging over people or the house. Then water the tree in dry weather and give it time. Many trees survive a single strike, but pines often attract bark beetles afterward, and some trees decline over months.
Right after the strike
Check for fire
Smoke from the trunk, base or nearby mulch. Call 911 if you see any.
Look for hangers
Split limbs caught in the crown can fall later.
Check the house
Lightning can jump from a tree to nearby structures and wiring.
Keep away during storms
Never shelter under a tree in thunder.
Will the tree survive?
It depends on the damage. A single narrow strip of bark blown off is often survivable. Long deep splits, bark blown off around much of the trunk, or a scorched root zone are bad signs. Pines are especially likely to be attacked by bark beetles after a strike.
- Good odds
- One narrow scar, healthy crown.
- Poor odds
- Deep splits, large bark loss, browning crown.
- Pines
- Watch for pitch tubes and fading needles.
Signs the tree is declining
Leaves wilting or browning weeks later
Damage to the water-conducting tissue.
Pitch tubes on pine bark
Beetles moving in.
Bark loosening
Dead tissue underneath.
New cracks
The wood is failing.
Helping a struck tree recover
- Water in dry spells
- Deep, slow watering at the drip line.
- Remove loose bark and split wood
- Cleanly, to reduce decay.
- Skip fertilizer for now
- It does not help a damaged tree.
- Wait a season
- Before deciding, unless the tree is a hazard.
Lightning tree questions
Can lightning strike the same tree twice?
Yes. Tall, isolated trees are struck repeatedly over their lives.
Should I install lightning protection?
For tall, valued trees near the house in high-lightning areas, it is worth considering.
Will my homeowners policy pay for a struck tree?
Damage to the house is usually covered; coverage for the tree itself is often limited.
Why pines are at higher risk
Lightning damage to the house should be checked too. A strike nearby can travel through the ground or along wires and damage electronics, so test circuits and appliances after a close strike.
Lightning often kills pines even when the visible damage looks modest. The strike can injure the inner bark and roots along much of the trunk, and the stressed tree gives off chemical signals that attract bark beetles. In parts of the South, pines struck by lightning are a common starting point for southern pine beetle infestations that spread to nearby healthy trees.
For this reason, foresters often recommend removing a struck pine promptly if it shows fading needles or beetle activity, rather than waiting a season. Hardwoods such as oaks are more likely to survive and seal the wound over time. In either case, removing loose bark and split wood cleanly helps the tree and makes it easier to see whether the damage is spreading.
Get it assessed
An arborist can judge whether the tree is safe to keep. For valuable trees in lightning-prone areas, lightning protection for trees reduces future damage. See also tree risk assessment.
This guide is general information, not professional, legal or insurance advice. Tree conditions, local rules and policy terms vary. Have a qualified arborist inspect the tree, and confirm regulations and coverage with your city and insurer.
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