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Cabling, Bracing, and Supporting
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Using cables and supports for trees is a tree care
practice where the primary objective is
to save the tree by helping it to support
itself. Sometimes large trees can grow
limbs that are too large to support, or
grow with a V-shaped crotch that can break off
easily, or the tree has been damaged. Cables,
braces and supports are used in
place of removing the limb or stem in question.
Before we look at cabling we will see examples
of the V-shaped (weak) and U-shaped (strong)
crotch. |
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The V-shaped crotch is weak. The shape
bark forms a bark wedge when two stems grow at
sharp angles to one another. These ingrown
wedges prevent strong attachment of stems often
causing a crack at the point below where the
branches meet. Cabling could be used to hold the
stems together but will not heal the tree of its
problem. Removing one or more of the stems
will allow the other stem(s) to take over. |
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U-shaped crotch is much stronger by
design. These types of unions usually do
not require cables or removal. |
Cabling
Cabling/Bracing reduces the risk of tree
failure resulting from:
- Structural weaknesses (V-shaped crotch)
- Storm damage
- Mechanical injury
- Rubbing limbs
- Long heavy limbs
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Maintenance
Cabling systems should be professionally
examined once a year and after each major storm
by a licensed arborist. Bracing is normally done
as part of an overall cabling system, mainly to
add strength to a weak "V-shaped" crotch.
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Tools
Some of the tools we use
on a cabling project.
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