Techniques for When Your Trees Need a Little Extra Support

When reviewing trees for safety, identifying hazardous or weak limbs which may fail is an important part of the evaluation. Poor structure, decay caused by disease or other defects may be the cause of the problem bough.

The usual remedy for resolving the threat is the removal of the dangerous limbs that have the potential to inflict property damage or injury to residents or visitors. Given the circumstances it may necessitate the removal of the entire tree.

This is because, when removing limbs over three or four inches in diameter, there is a good chance of introducing decay into the tree. Causing the additional structural damage will likely result in the eventual removal of the tree and increased expense and risk.

Stately live oak trees often end their days by being split open after a high wind event. In some cases, the trees can be saved by the cabling and bracing of the limbs. This is an especially useful technique when the tree has the potential to damage property or people under it limbs.

Structural enhancement includes cabling and bracing a tree which may, in some situations, remedy the structural defect. To accomplish this successfully, a qualified arborist who is experienced in structural enhancement techniques as well as tree physiology should be engaged.

Cabling and bracing of mature trees encompasses the techniques of both art and science. Each tree will present unique challenges and requires a custom-made solution.

The arborist must design the system to address the existing limb length and weight. The constantly varying factors including wind load and potential decay must also be factored in to the plan.

Cabling, when properly done, is designed to reduce motion caused by wind which will accelerate limb failure. It should also reduce stress on limbs which have weak attachment to the tree’s trunk.

Bracing is accomplished in two ways. One technique is to install a support to simply prop up the weakened limb.

The second way is using threaded rods to “close” stress cracks in trunks or limbs. These fissures may be the result of heavy winds or over leveraged weight from limbs emanating from the same point in a trunk.

There are industry standards for the appropriate use and proper installation of the tools used in these systems. Structural considerations are used to evaluate wind and weight load requirements.

There are mechanical limits for differing sizes of cables and bracing materials which may be used on a tree. Each tree has its own exclusive requirements which must be fulfilled to assure the success of a cabling and bracing project.

Future growth, which will continually change both the length and weight of the limb, guarantees the system must be routinely monitored and updated as required over time.

These projects are usually expensive, especially for very large trees. Given the investment made by the homeowner or land owner, it is worth considering a lightning protection system for the cabled tree.

While cabling and bracing does not attract lightning, a lightning strike would have a devastating effect on the tree because of the metal cables and braces. Any steel, iron or other metals will act as a conduit for the high voltage electrical charge.

A properly installed lightning rod system will mitigate the damage in case of a strike and improve the tree’s chances for surviving the mishap.