When do you cable / brace?
- There are three major uses of cables and braces
- prevention: to reduce the chance of failure on a healthy tree with structural weakness
- Example: a specimen bur oak in good condition but having large limbs with "V-crotches"
- restoration: to prolong the existence of a damaged tree
- Example: a large Mulberry that lost one of its leaders in a storm, leaving the others suddenly exposed and vulnerable to further damage
- mitigation: to reduce the hazard potential of a tree
- Example: a picturesque multi-stemmed Locust that towers over a picnic shelter
How is the cabling / bracing done?
- By certified arborist who is knowledgeable and experienced in this area.
- There are many important technical aspects to correct cabling and bracing
- the strength and material of the hardware
- the arrangement of the cables (simple, triangle, box) or rods (single, multiple, etc.)
- the location, type and size of the entries made into the tree
- "All work and materials shall be in accordance with ANSI, A300 Tree Care Standards (Part 3) -- 2000."