WHITE OAK TREE DIEING

[dave1949]

I have had several oaks die over the recent years that best I can tell were killed by lightning. They were taller trees and just suddenly died. Not sign what so ever on what killed them.

.............
Later,
Dan

Drought can be the cause of that, and the tree can die 1-2 years after the drought.

 

[dmccarty]

Drought can be the cause of that, and the tree can die 1-2 years after the drought.

Yep, drought could have done it too but one set of trees was in a bit of a low spot and would get more water than nearby trees. The trees with access to more water died but not the less watered trees. There are two other trees, one quite large buried in the woods, that are dead. One is higher than the surrounding trees. I have not walked in to see that tree up close but it is the only one that died in that part of the forest. It is possible that the lightning bolt that killed the one tree also got this tree as well. The other tree that died is much smaller and near the septic field. I think it is near enough to get water from the field but not near enough to have had a major root cut when the septic field was dug.

We have had other trees die on our property line that I am pretty sure where lightning strikes. They were tall trees that were exposed on one side since the neighboring property was clear cut years ago. These trees stood out, literally. No other trees died but these few right on the property line. We have had some very close lightning hits over the years and I think these dead trees were the ones that were zapped. Only one or maybe two had obvious lightning damage but these trees would suddenly be dead after a major storm.

We are on the highest area of land for a good mile or so and we seem to attract lightning. :shocked:

Later,
Dan