Bracing & Cabling

Bracing and/or Cabling is used to provide additional support when trees have structural issues that need to be addressed.  Some of these issues include codominant branches or stems with included bark, split or decayed crotches.  Stems are not wrapped tightly with anything in this process.  This is extremely important because the cambium layer could be constricted or crushed much like a tourniquet.  The hardware used is determined by the size of the stems and amount of support needed.  Both of these services are typically performed in conjunction with an aggressive pruning process such as Crown Thinning and/or Crown Reduction.

Bracing

Think of Bracing as the practice of bolting a tree together.  Bracing is performed by drilling a hole or multiple holes all of the way through the tree just above the site of the structural problem.  Then, a galvanized all-thread rod is installed in each hole with washers and nuts tightened on each end.

Cabling

Think of Cabling as a shock absorber much like the ones on your automobile.  When wind friction penetrates the canopy of a tree with structural issues and without a cable, compromised stems within that tree move in independent directions causing a great deal of force on unsupported crotches.  When properly installed, the cable supports these stems and prevents them from moving independently, thus reducing stress on the impaired crotch.  Cabling is performed by  installing a lag bolt and thimble two thirds of the way up each stem/s needing support.  A seven strand steel support cable is then pulled taught and twisted over the thimble and each of the seven wires are wrapped around the cable alternating direction each time.

Key Benefits

• Bracing and Cabling provides extra support. 
• Bracing and Cabling can extend the life of the tree.
• Bracing and Cabling can make the tree safer.