Cabling and Bracing

As a tree matures certain growth patterns can leave your tree more prone to structural issues including limb failures or split trunks.

Limb failure can be devastating. The damage done can be costly and it can greatly affect the shape and health of your tree and damage property. Proper pruning and weight reduction can help, but often cables and braces may be a safer and more effective approach. The installation of cables within a tree helps to manage the stress created by poor limb structure by reinforcing the pre-existing joint and helping to redistribute weight. The angle of a limb’s growth is indicative of it’s structural integrity. It may seem counterintuitive, but the wider and more “U” shaped the angle is at the joint between two limbs, the stronger that joint tends to be. The more acute, and “V” shaped joints fail for more frequently because they create oppositional pressure within the joint, and do not hold on as tightly when stressed.

Split trunks are most often found on multi-trunked trees. As these trees grow, the weight increases and width of their original stems increases growing wider and wider. Eventually, these trunks will start to grow in a way that creates internal pressure along the joint at the base of the tree. If you notice any cracking at the base of your tree, contact us for a free consult by a Certified Arborist, as this can be a strong indicator of a potential hazard. If caught early enough, installing bolting rods and stabilizing cables can help stabilize trees and branches.

Our Certified Arborists will assess your tree’s need for cables. The installation is done by our trained professionals. It is very important to have cables and bolts installed correctly; using the wrong equipment or outdated techniques can do more harm than good. Texas Tree Surgeons uses top of the line materials, and installs them using techniques outlined by The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).