Community Chat

[Cakers3]

I have never heard about exploding trees.

"Cold weather will cause some trees to shatter by freezing the sap, because it contains water, which expands as it freezes, creating a sound like a gunshot.[ The sound is produced as the tree bark splits, with the wood contracting as the sap expands." 😱

Just saw a clip on the news although no trees are exploding around here.😯

With all the extreme cold something new to learn 🤔

[Tinkrbl44]

@Cakers3 

I have heard of this before ... somewhere.  Did they say what type of trees these were?   

[beach-mom]

@Cakers3 - Thanks for sharing this! I've never heard of them either, and it was really interesting. We have a lot of trees around us, and it's something I should be aware of. 

People around us seem to like fireworks, so we hear those all of the time, but if I heard the sound of something like a gunshot I would take notice!  

[Cakers3]

@beach-mom

From what I found maple and birch trees can be subject to "exploding" because of thinner bark.

There could be others especially young trees with thinner bark.

I thought about the maple tree because of the sap, like tapping for maple syrup.

I found the use of "exploding" interesting because it's not as though they burst and shatter all over the place but it's only the bark splitting which makes the sound.

[shoekitty]

I would think trees with a lot of sap.  My first thought was maple, but I looked it up. It said Oak, Ash and Walnut. What was interesting!    There  are some plants that explode so to speak as well ..and for a grander  purpose in mind, lol. Plants  like Milkweed, Squirting Cucumber and a few others ,when frozen to a certain point, explode and spew their seeds...I would think this would lead to propagation. Anyway, I didn't really know all this, and I find it very interesting.  Some of the things you learn here, if you look up and read!

[Cakers3]

@Tinkrbl44

See my post to beach-mom. I originally posted I to you but when I edit and add another poster it bumps the first one out 🤔😯

[SilleeMee]

My silver maple tree has been around for many years and it has never had any issues in very cold weather. It has been below zero here on more than one occasion and no exploding trees around my neck of the woods.

[Marp]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

My silver maple tree has been around for many years and it has never had any issues in very cold weather. It has been below zero here on more than one occasion and no exploding trees around my neck of the woods.

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@SilleeMee,  Out of curiosity I had to look up the temperature at which trees can explode and the general answer was -40F.  I would think it also would have to be for a prolonged period of time.