Cabling and Bracing Trees
Cabling and Bracing Trees
Cabling and bracing are additional structural supports used to minimize the risk of failure from weak branches or multiple stems, and also prevent splitting in the trunk.
Cable and bracing techniques may not always be appropriate, however. Arborists recommend cabling and bracing only after conducting an assessment on your tree's condition.
Definition
Trees add value and shade to our landscape, increasing property values while providing shade. However, when one becomes damaged or weakened it poses a potential threat to homes, cars, power lines, people and animals – tree cabling and bracing help decrease the likelihood of structural failures occurring.
Cabling helps secure trees that are near homes or over roads, walkways or sidewalks by keeping branches from rubbing against each other and potentially becoming sources of damage in high winds. Furthermore, this prevents rubbing branches that might form from growing into dangerous situation when left exposed to wind gusts.
When a large linden has split at a weak union (pictured), an arborist will install steel cables hooked to both stems, attached by hardware to an ammon-eye to prevent movement at this compromised union. As time goes on, though, this hardware may become worn-out over time; therefore annual inspection should take place as cabling and bracing can potentially create stress on an overall tree's health.
Purpose
Cabling and bracing can help mitigate stress from heavy weather or windy conditions and mitigate damage caused to trees, as well as preserve valuable historic ones that might otherwise be considered candidates for removal. This strategy can also protect valuable trees with historical value that would otherwise be at risk of being cut down or uprooted.
Additionally, this method can be used to address various problems related to tree structures, including an unruly layout or codominant stems (where multiple large branches with equal sizes emerge from one point on the trunk). Furthermore, it provides an efficient means of limiting movement from weakly connected limbs that are susceptible to breaking in high winds.
Finally, cables and brace rods can also be used to support damaged limbs after severe storms. For instance, trees that have been hit by tornadoes or other natural disasters can be stabilized with cables and brace rods to protect branch or trunk failure and extend its life further – keeping people and property safer in the long run.
Installation
Cabling can help protect these majestic trees and ensure their continued standing in high winds or during ice accumulation. Cabling offers an effective solution to keeping these magnificent specimens standing for many years to come.
Cabling can be accomplished with either steel cable or synthetic wire, depending on your tree species and needs. Steel cable requires drilling holes through trunk and branches into which it is then installed while synthetic wire offers a non-invasive alternative solution.
An ISA-Certified Arborist can assess whether cabling is suitable in any given situation; however, it must be noted that it doesn't address widespread decay or root rot issues.
Arborists use cabling kits to provide support for specific branches or leaders. Each cabling kit contains an expansion insert to account for future growth, an anti-abrasion hose to reduce friction between cable and branches, and a shock absorber to provide extra protection. Arborists then manipulate this cable so it forms loops around one branch at a time so as to create stability against wind or ice movement.
Maintenance
Some species of trees, such as Live Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Pecan and Cedar Elm trees have wide open canopies that would benefit from cabling to increase canopy coverage and stabilize structural issues like crotch stress or trunk splits.
Cabling reduces limb motion that could lead to failure during storms. Braces – threaded rods installed through weak branches and multiple stems – offer additional rigid support against torsional forces.
Correct pruning prevents girdling and other damages to trees that could eventually lead to their failure, keeping healthy trees safe until future pruning or growth reduces this risk.
Homeowners can identify when their tree requires cabling and bracing by looking out for structural problems, such as cracks or weak trunks, or leaning branches that could fall and cause property damage. But this work must be performed by an arborist trained to use ladders; homeowners are best served leaving this task in their hands.
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Cabling and Bracing Trees Cabling and bracing are additional structural supports used to minimize the risk of failure from weak branches or multiple stems, and also prevent splitting in the trunk. Cable and bracing techniques may not always be appropriate, however. Arborists recommend cabling and bracing only after conducting an assessment on your tree's condition.…