Professional Tree Cabling & Bracing
Modern Tree Cabling Systems That Protect Tree Health
Keep the Tree, Improve Safety With Tree Cabling
Sometimes a windstorm comes through, churning up the canopy and leaving behind broken or damaged branches. Some of these need to be trimmed out, but others may just need a little extra strengthening and support. As unintuitive as it seems, branches also need to move. The movement a branch experiences triggers the growth of more wood where the stress is highest, making the branch stronger — kind of like working out at the gym.
Tree Cabling Designed by Arborists
This is where tree cabling and bracing come in. Cabling involves looping strong, somewhat elastic, hollow polyester ropes around main branches high in the canopy. These run from one side of the tree to another and are installed with a little slack in the line. Their purpose is not to prevent movement between the attached stems, but to limit how much movement can occur. This puts “outside rails” on branch movement, similar to the rails in a bowling alley that keep bad throws out of the gutter.
Tree Cabling & Bracing Solutions
When done using modern best practices, cabling typically no longer relies on steel cables attached to bolts drilled through the middle of the branch. While those older systems did hold branches up, they allowed less natural movement, and the holes created to install the bolts often became a feeding ground for wood-decay fungi.
Bracing is a different approach to stabilizing weak structure. Because it does involve drilling through the wood, it should only be used when justified. Bolts are placed through both the branch and trunk and tightened down. When used at branch unions that have begun to crack on top — or appear likely to do so — bracing can provide years of added safety before decay in the bolt hole becomes a concern.
Tree Cabling for Peace of Mind
Some leaning trees can also be stabilized with well-designed prop systems. These are usually A-frame lumber supports with their bottoms set into the soil and padded tops pressing against the tree. Not all leaning trees are good candidates for this approach, but when appropriate, it can be an effective solution.
Our arborists enjoy the challenge of designing and installing tree support systems such as cables, braces, and props. We love helping make a tree safer — safe enough to remain in the landscape for many more years. Our clients feel confident, the tree stays healthy, and everyone wins. At Legacy, we provide tree cabling & bracing solutions that are tailored to your tree. Give us a call today to find out more!
