Summer storms roll through Metro East Illinois fast, and a lightning strike on a tree does not always look dramatic. Sometimes there is an obvious scorch mark spiraling down the trunk. Other times the damage is underground in the root system, and the tree looks fine for weeks before it starts to decline.
Signs to watch for after a storm include a long vertical strip of bark that has separated from the trunk, wood that looks split or blown outward near the base, and leaves that wilt or brown on just one section of the canopy while the rest of the tree looks normal. Sap flowing from bark splits is another signal worth a closer look.
A struck tree does not always need to come down right away, but it should be assessed. Internal damage can weaken the structure in ways that are not visible from the ground, and that becomes a bigger problem the next time wind or heavy rain moves through the area.
Did last week's storms come through your neighborhood in Moro, Bethalto, or Edwardsville, and have you checked your trees since?
#MetroEastIL
Photo of a tree with visible storm or lightning damage, such as a bark strip separation or split limb, ideally from a recent job. Authentic photos of real damage and real work outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Storm Damage Isn't Always Obvious" or "Free Storm Damage Assessment"