What cabling and bracing are
Cabling runs steel or synthetic cables between limbs high in the canopy, so they can't spread apart and split in high wind or under heavy snow and ice.
Bracing uses threaded steel rods installed through a weak or cracked spot where two trunks or limbs meet, to hold them together.
The two are often used together, along with some pruning to take weight off the weak spot.
When it makes sense
- Two trunks of similar size forming a tight V, especially when bark is pinched in between them. That's a common failure point.
- A crack where two limbs or trunks meet on a tree that's otherwise healthy.
- A big, valuable tree, like a shade tree over the house or a landmark in the yard, that you'd rather support than lose.
When it doesn't
Cabling won't save a tree that's dead or dying, badly decayed, or failing at the roots. That includes ash trees killed by emerald ash borer. In those cases, removal is the safe call.
How it's done
- Cables are usually anchored about two-thirds of the way from the weak spot to the branch tips, where they get the most leverage.
- Static systems (steel) hold limbs firmly and are used for weak or cracked unions. Dynamic systems (synthetic rope) allow some movement and are often used preventively.
- Bracing rods go just above the weak union, and a badly split union may need more than one.
- The industry standard for this work is ANSI A300 Part 3 (supplemental support systems). Ask whether the crew follows it.
Keep an eye on it
A cabling system isn't install-and-forget. It should be inspected periodically for tension, worn hardware and how the tree is growing around it. As the owner, that's your responsibility, so put a reminder on the calendar.
Think a tree in your yard might be a candidate? Call (315) 687-8301 or send the form.