A: The quick kill on this tree, and any tree for that matter, was probably caused by lightening. Nothing else will kill a tree so quickly. Diseases or insects will work on the tree over weeks and months therefore it will take much longer than a few days to turn totally brown. We did experience storms and therefore possibly lightening during the time you were away from home. Nothing can be done to rectify this now. The tree will need to be removed if there is any potential of it falling on your house, your car or other people. You can cut the top out of the tree and let it remain in your yard to provide a home for other wildlife such as the Pileated woodpecker. Dead trees left in the landscape for wildlife are called snags. As long as the tree is not at risk for falling on people or things it should remain, if possible. It is important to also note lightening does not have to directly strike the tree to cause extensive damage. It is possible for the strike to occur on the ground, travel around the root area then go through the root to the rest of the tree causing death.

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