Seems I have a lightning rod.....

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Like a lot of places this Spring, we've had a lot of rain. At least we haven't had severe weather like TX but we did get thunderstorms a couple days ago that was from that deadly weather TX got.

My cat heard it long before I did and she decided the best (and safest) place to be was under the bed. Anyway, it was a high wind thunderstorm. I have a huge maple tree in my front yard that's too close to the house to suit me. My late husband had had the tree people here in October (8 days before he died) to look at that tree and see what they thought about trimming it back. They were scheduled to come in November but after he died I canceled because I had more important things that needed to be done at that time.

So, when we got that nasty thunderstorm, those branches were swaying all over the place and I was praying that none of it broke off and headed towards the roof or front windows. It didn't, thankfully, but I thought about it and called the tree guy back. He came yesterday and looked at the tree again. He asked me if it had been struck by lightning the other day when we had that storm. I told him I didn't know. Then, he showed me 2 places on the tree that had scars from lightning strikes. YIKES! We decided the best thing to do was take it down. He said he'd plant a new tree for me in honor of my husband :)

Little did I know I had a lightning rod in my front yard. He'll be back in about 3 weeks.
 

Colleen said:
Like a lot of places this Spring, we've had a lot of rain. At least we haven't had severe weather like TX but we did get thunderstorms a couple days ago that was from that deadly weather TX got.

My cat heard it long before I did and she decided the best (and safest) place to be was under the bed. Anyway, it was a high wind thunderstorm. I have a huge maple tree in my front yard that's too close to the house to suit me. My late husband had had the tree people here in October (8 days before he died) to look at that tree and see what they thought about trimming it back. They were scheduled to come in November but after he died I canceled because I had more important things that needed to be done at that time.

So, when we got that nasty thunderstorm, those branches were swaying all over the place and I was praying that none of it broke off and headed towards the roof or front windows. It didn't, thankfully, but I thought about it and called the tree guy back. He came yesterday and looked at the tree again. He asked me if it had been struck by lightning the other day when we had that storm. I told him I didn't know. Then, he showed me 2 places on the tree that had scars from lightning strikes. YIKES! We decided the best thing to do was take it down. He said he'd plant a new tree for me in honor of my husband :)

Little did I know I had a lightning rod in my front yard. He'll be back in about 3 weeks.
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It's good that you're having it taken down @Colleen. Shocking, isn't it (unintentional pun). A few years ago, a 100+ foot ash tree near our barn was struck. You could actually see daylight through a long crack in the center of the trunk that was caused by the lightning strike. :eek:
 
In years past it was common to see lightning rods installed on the peak of a house roof around here. Out in the farm country barns and homes both had lightning arrestor rods, connected to copper "ground spikes " which were at least 5 feet long , driven into the soil. The previous owner of our 117 year old home had a lightning arrestor attached to the top of the brick chimney, with a braided copper line running down to the ground, which is connected to one of those ground spikes. We don't have any trees on our small city lot, but directly across the street the city park has quite a few large oaks and cedars. JImb.
 
Colleen said:
Like a lot of places this Spring, we've had a lot of rain. At least we haven't had severe weather like TX but we did get thunderstorms a couple days ago that was from that deadly weather TX got.

My cat heard it long before I did and she decided the best (and safest) place to be was under the bed. Anyway, it was a high wind thunderstorm. I have a huge maple tree in my front yard that's too close to the house to suit me. My late husband had had the tree people here in October (8 days before he died) to look at that tree and see what they thought about trimming it back. They were scheduled to come in November but after he died I canceled because I had more important things that needed to be done at that time.

So, when we got that nasty thunderstorm, those branches were swaying all over the place and I was praying that none of it broke off and headed towards the roof or front windows. It didn't, thankfully, but I thought about it and called the tree guy back. He came yesterday and looked at the tree again. He asked me if it had been struck by lightning the other day when we had that storm. I told him I didn't know. Then, he showed me 2 places on the tree that had scars from lightning strikes. YIKES! We decided the best thing to do was take it down. He said he'd plant a new tree for me in honor of my husband :)

Little did I know I had a lightning rod in my front yard. He'll be back in about 3 weeks.
Click to expand...
Did you ask him, if the tree is removed will the tallest point in the yard then be my roof?

I would do the opposite. I'd have him prune the tree and leave that little fighter there to distract the lightening from my house. That tree has taken two hits for you! Brave and worthy little tree. 🌳
 
VintageBetter said:
Did you ask him, if the tree is removed will the tallest point in the yard then be my roof?

I would do the opposite. I'd have him prune the tree and leave that little fighter there to distract the lightening from my house. That tree has taken two hits for you! Brave and worthy little tree. 🌳
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It's not such a "little tree" :)


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VintageBetter said:
Are you sure this guy is not just looking for a paycheck?

I would prune it and leave it. Better the lightning hits the tree than my house.
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So... you're saying it would be better than that tree, if struck by lightning, to fall on my house than to cut it down? We had it pruned last summer. That was the first time in its long life that anything was ever done to it. The previous owners never did anything.

I called him...he didn't call me. He's the best in this area and eastern Ohio and he's always booked up for weeks. Besides the strikes that he could see, he says he thinks there's something going on inside the trunk of the tree.

All-in-all....better to be safe than sorry :) I don't want to find out how good my homeowners insurance is.
 
Colleen said:
So... you're saying it would be better than that tree, if struck by lightning, to fall on my house than to cut it down? We had it pruned last summer. That was the first time in its long life that anything was ever done to it. The previous owners never did anything.

I called him...he didn't call me. He's the best in this area and eastern Ohio and he's always booked up for weeks. Besides the strikes that he could see, he says he thinks there's something going on inside the trunk of the tree.

All-in-all....better to be safe than sorry :) I don't want to find out how good my homeowners insurance is.
Click to expand...
The first picture did not show its size compared to the house.

BUT, I would still fight for the tree. I would want it pruned like crazy, but leave the top branches long so it can be a lightening rod. It seems like it has made a good relationship with lightening.;)

Plus, the other tree to the left, it might fall on the house too.

It looks like a very protective tree to me.

In all honesty, I think your emotions, your gut, are telling you, "Don't chop down the tree" but because you're missing your husband and his input on the matter, you're letting the tree expert be a substitute spouse.

I'm not saying that to be critical or as a put-down, but when a woman has been married for a long time, she does have to learn to trust her own gut instincts once her spouse is gone.

I'm not saying this to be ornery. I'm just expressing an opinion. If it were my yard, I'd fight for the tree. It's just an opinion.
 
VintageBetter said:
The first picture did not show its size compared to the house.

BUT, I would still fight for the tree. I would want it pruned like crazy, but leave the top branches long so it can be a lightening rod. It seems like it has made a good relationship with lightening.;)

Plus, the other tree to the left, it might fall on the house too.

It looks like a very protective tree to me.

In all honesty, I think your emotions, your gut, are telling you, "Don't chop down the tree" but because you're missing your husband and his input on the matter, you're letting the tree expert be a substitute spouse.

I'm not saying that to be critical or as a put-down, but when a woman has been married for a long time, she does have to learn to trust her own gut instincts once her spouse is gone.

I'm not saying this to be ornery. I'm just expressing an opinion. If it were my yard, I'd fight for the tree. It's just an opinion.
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Pruning would be a waste of money. It's been neglected for too many years. I'm not letting the tree guy talk me into anything. He left it up to me. If my husband would still be here he would have made the same decision. The roots of the tree are above ground in many places and mowing is a challenge because they are spread out quite far in the yard. The other tree that you see are birch trees. They bend and sway with the wind. That's what they're supposed to do.
 
VintageBetter said:
Did you ask him, if the tree is removed will the tallest point in the yard then be my roof?

I would do the opposite. I'd have him prune the tree and leave that little fighter there to distract the lightening from my house. That tree has taken two hits for you! Brave and worthy little tree. 🌳
Click to expand...
I'd probably do the same, that trees been a great little protector.
 
OK...here's an update for all you "tree-huggers" (haha)....

I've decided to just get the tree trimmed...this year. I will see what happens with it's growth through the year. The biggest, heaviest overgrown branches are on the street side of the tree, so if it gets struck by lightning again, hopefully it will fall away from the house.

Are you happy now? ;) 🌳
 

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