Q: I live in Cherokee County and have a beautiful poplar tree in my back yard that got struck by lighting last night and am not sure if it can be saved. Since it is so close to the house I am worried it could fall on the house.

A: Were you home when it happened? Have your ears stopped ringing yet?! Your tree received a direct hit. The surge of electricity boiled the sap and exploded the trunk.

I think some trees can survive lightning if there is only a narrow strip of bark removed – – but yours has the interior wood blown apart.

The tree will not survive and should be removed. You don’t have to do it tomorrow though – the trunk is still just about as strong as it was before the storm.

Here are some tips on choosing an arborist.