Benefits

What is cabling and bracing, and how does it work? A complete guide to the tree support technique

While trees seem like strong, sturdy, and stable fixtures that can stand tall in place for generations, sometimes they need support to stay stable. This support can be provided in the form of tree cabling and bracing. Cables and braces provide trees protection and support to grow and thrive. Keep reading to learn more about cabling and bracing.

Tree Cabling And Bracing Reinforce The Integrity Of A Tree

• Tree cabling and bracing are the techniques used by arborists to reinforce the structural integrity of a tree using robust cables and braces. The high-strength steel cables support the branches to keep them from moving.

Additionally, bolts are inserted through the branches to fasten these cables securely. This support system reduces the risk of branch break-offs during strong winds and evenly distributes the weight of branches.

Different Techniques Are Used In Different Situations

• Arborists use different cabling and bracing methods depending on a tree’s condition. The common cabling and bracing techniques include:

Dynamic Cabling System

• Arborists typically use more flexible and elastic cables in dynamic cabling systems to enable increased flexibility and movement. This cable is attached between tree limbs, allowing movement with the wind. The dynamic system allows the affected area to be salvaged while enabling it to respond to natural stressors and grow more wood to heal the damaged region.

Static Cabling System

• A static cabling system is preferred when tree parts fail, or movement is not desired. This system uses a strong steel cable to fasten the limbs and prevent unwanted movement. In many instances, bracing is used together with static cabling to enhance the support the weakened limbs get.

It Increases The Lifespan of A Tree

• Trees under the pressure of a heavy crown or have issues with their structure do not live long. Important parts of the tree either fall off or are disfigured under their weight. This can cause your tree to develop issues and not live as long. Proper assistance in maintaining structure can help prevent this.

It Prevents Tree Problems

• Tree cabling helps to reduce the risk of limb failure in areas with weak spots or multiple crotches. Crotches are the areas where the tree limbs are separated. Cabling helps to support the tree by distributing the weight of the branches more evenly. Even if the tree is healthy, adding a few cables can prevent these problems.

In addition, cabling helps improve the tree’s appearance by training the limbs to grow more attractively. Tree cabling preserves a tree’s structural strength. Even if your tree is already compromised, cabling prevents further damage by stabilizing the limbs and trunk so they can’t rub against each other and cause more splits.

It Should Not Be Attempted As A DIY Task

• Tree cabling is a technical and complex process that should not be attempted as a DIY task. Hire qualified professionals to perform the service for you. Arborists begin by drilling holes in the compromised and the stronger limb. The cable of the correct length is threaded through these holes. A pully system is then used to pull the two cabled stems together until they are in the correct position for optimal stability.

The cable should be taught but not too tight. If the cable is too tight, it will put more strain on the weak limb. On the other hand, the loose cable will fail to provide the right amount of support. Once the cable is in perfect position, the arborist will fix it and add a finishing cap for a finished appearance.

To get the best tree cabling and bracing services, contact America Tree Inc. We offer multiple tree care and maintenance services in Montclair, New Jersey, and nearby areas. To get a free estimate of our services, call us at (973) 744-6091.

Explore 5 fascinating facts about trees that will make you appreciate nature more

While we admire their beauty, appreciate their role in providing oxygen, and enjoy their fresh produce, there is so much more to trees than meets the eye. From their ancient origins to extraordinary survival techniques, this article highlights the fascinating facts about trees. Keep reading to uncover the hidden secrets of nature’s most magnificent creations.

Trees Act As Nature’s Compass

• Moss tends to grow on the shadier parts of trees. In the northern hemisphere, the least sunlight reaches the tree’s north side. This enables us to use moss as an indicator of the northern direction. Therefore, the side of the tree with the most moss growth is the way to the north. However, the opposite is true for the southern hemisphere.

In addition, determining the direction becomes even easier if you find a tree stump. The southern side of the tree gets the most sunlight, making the tree rings slightly thicker on that side compared to the northern side. You can rely on trees as your reliable guides when navigating through the forests by paying attention to the natural cues trees provide.

The Astonishing Survival Tactics Employed by Trees

• While trees are stationary and appear vulnerable, they have remarkable survival instincts that enable them to thrive in the natural world. These instincts play a significant role in a tree’s growth and reproductive process, ensuring continued existence. For instance, most trees can grow toward the sun to optimize their access to sunlight. This instinct allows them to produce maximum energy and sustain their growth.

In addition, it can store food and seeds efficiently to ensure a steady supply of nutrients for growth and survival during challenging times. Moreover, some trees have developed an exceptional defense mechanism against insects. They produce chemicals that act as natural insecticides, combating potential threats.

Trees Can Share Nutrients And Memories

• An extraordinary symbiotic relationship exists between most trees and mycorrhizal fungi that reside on their roots. Fungi gather food from the soil and help absorb additional nutrients and water from trees. In addition, the fungi establish connections between nearby trees, creating a huge underground communication network. Trees share vital information through this network to protect themselves and their offspring.

Moreover, trees have an astonishing ability to retain memories from past decades or even centuries. Trees pass the information encoded in their DNA to future generations, enabling offspring to protect themselves in varying climates and environmental conditions.

Tree Roots’ Can Thrive in Challenging Environments

• Although tree roots lie in shallow depths in the top 18 inches of soil, they are incredibly resilient and can adapt to hostile environments without compromising their lateral growth. Trees have developed fascinating strategies in their quest for survival.

For instance, certain species produce hanging roots extending from their branches downwards. Known as aerial or prop roots, these roots provide additional support to the tree’s overground mass. This helps keep them stable in dense forests or areas prone to strong winds.

Trees Help In Crime Reduction and Stress Relief

• Trees have a crucial role in human life and impact our well-being. For example, the presence of trees helps reduce stress levels and crime rates in communities as their aesthetic appeal can create a calming environment. Studies show that neighborhoods with more trees experience lower crime rates. In addition, trees enhance property value, as well-landscaped properties see an average increase in value of around 10%.

Explore our tree nutrient management services to give your trees the care they deserve. Contact American Tree Experts to create a thriving environment that benefits humans and nature. We offer Nutrient Management Services in New Jersey. Let us revitalize your trees by injecting them with organic and liquid fertilizers.

Discover the benefits of tree cabling and how to avoid the drawbacks

Tree cabling and bracing is a common practice that helps preserve a tree and lengthen its lifespan. Tree cabling can help save a wide range of tree species and is frequently done in urban and suburban areas. However, there is a lot more to tree cabling than just holding up branches. So let’s dig deeper to discover the benefits and drawbacks of tree cabling.

Benefits Of Tree Cabling

There are numerous benefits of tree cabling. Some of them are obvious, while others gradually appear. The most important benefits of tree cabling include the following:

Decreases The Risk Of Damage

• Tree cabling prevents the risk of damage caused by falling trees and safeguards homes, vehicles, and human lives. However, damaged trees can fall without warning, posing a significant threat to anyone in their way, and even parked cars can be severely damaged.

In situations where a tree is at risk of falling in places where it shouldn’t, it is advisable to hire the services of a professional arborist to evaluate the tree’s needs and determine if cabling is a suitable option. Taking proactive measures can help prevent a potential incident from occurring.

Promotes Healthy Growth

• Heavy wind can often eradicate the tops of older trees, sabotaging the integrity of your tree. However, cabling strengthens the structural integrity of a tree, promoting healthy growth and prolonging its lifespan.

In addition, cabling helps to distribute the weight of the tree’s crown, reducing the risk of branch failure and damage. As a result, the tree can continue to thrive and grow to its maximum potential.

Produces More Fruit

• Trees that bear heavy fruit loads can strain their branches and increase the risk of breakage. Cabling provides additional support to heavy branches to distribute the weight of the fruit load evenly, preventing damage and promoting healthy growth.

As a result, a significant increase is seen in the fruit yield of trees such as apples, plums, pears, and quince. This technique is particularly useful for older fruit trees with weaker branches.

Drawbacks Of Tree Cabling

Tree cabling may have some drawbacks, including:

It Cuts Off Nutrient Supply To Upper Branches

• While cabling offers significant benefits, it can pose some risks to the tree’s health. One of the dangers of cabling is that it may cut off essential nutrients to the tree’s upper branches. When a hole is drilled through the core of a tree to install a cable, it can affect the nutrient supply to the canopy layer.

Although the effects of this may not be immediately noticeable, over time, it can cause issues that compromise the tree’s health and longevity. However, this issue can be mitigated by avoiding drilling holes through the tree’s core. Alternatively, go for the cables that wrap around the outside of a branch rather than piercing through it.

Poorly Installed Cables

• Improper installation of tree cables is another potential risk associated with cabling. While it may be tempting to install cables yourself, doing so can be extremely dangerous and may result in serious injury or property damage.

Effective cabling requires specific expertise, including knowledge of cable tension, placement, and appropriate materials. Hire an experienced and qualified arborist to assess your tree’s needs and properly install cables to avoid these issues.

At American Tree Experts, Inc., we offer the best services to keep your plants out of harm’s way. Our tree cabling service makes sure that your trees are secured and protected. Our most sought out services are pruning, bracing, pest management, and nutritional management. We offer services in Montclair, New Jersey. Call us at 973-744-6091 for a free quote.

Read below and discover how do trees help change climate

Climate change is a reality, and it affects everyone around the world. While cutting back on sources of pollution is one strategy to deal with climate change, planting more trees is considered a better and long-lasting solution. Read below to find out how trees help combat climate change.

Trees Purify Air

• In the present day, CO2 is found abundantly almost everywhere on Earth. It is one of the harmful gases produced as a result of combustion, be it from vehicles, industries, or a forest fire. CO2 is lighter than air, and it goes towards the upper atmosphere. There it acts as a blanket around the Earth, trapping heat.

As a result, we experience an annual increase in temperature. This annual temperature increase results in other problems such as irregular weather patterns, heat waves, floods, and damage to the natural ecosystem.

• Trees require CO2 from the atmosphere as an essential component for photosynthesis. As a result of photosynthesis, trees produce energy for themselves alongside oxygen and water. If enough trees are planted, then the excess CO2 from the atmosphere can be absorbed quickly, thus having a purifying effect.

Trees Act As Natural Air Conditioners

• Trees produce oxygen and water from photosynthesis. The tree leaves have tiny openings called stomata. Water exits the leaves via stomata. This effect results in the general cooling of the environment.

Contrary to trees, civil infrastructure, including asphalt roads, tends to absorb heat. These structures then radiate heat, even during nighttime, thus making the environment warmer.

• If enough trees are planted, this heating effect can be minimized. Trees should be kept in good shape for optimal growth. Regular pruning keeps the trees healthy. Hire a professional tree pruning company so trees in urban settings can be pruned for maximum growth.

Trees Conserve Water

• A typical tree requires almost 15 gallons of water per day to function normally; however, the same tree gives back about 200-450 gallons of water to the environment daily.

If the tree has an adequate leaf cover, its shade helps protect the ground and the vegetation around its trunk. The shade prevents direct sunlight from reaching the ground, and as a result, evaporation is slowed down. As a result, the soil remains moist for a longer period.

Trees Filter Water & Prevent Water Pollution

• The trees’ water cycle helps filter and conserve water. For example, the tree roots can absorb contaminated water from the soil, and filtered water vapors exit the tree leaves after photosynthesis.

Similarly, stormwater contains high levels of contaminants such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Trees help reduce the impact of rainfall on the soil and promote its absorption into the soil. In this way, trees prevent stormwater from directly polluting the oceans and rivers.

Trees Protect Soil & Prevent Soil Erosion

• The tree root system is essential for absorbing water from the soil. The intricate web of roots helps to keep chunks of soil together. While this webbing of roots supports the tree, it also helps keep the soil in place.

Most tree roots travel several meters down and across from where the tree is located. If the area experiences unexpectedly high levels of rainfall, this root system helps prevent soil erosion.

• The tree’s leaf cover also prevents soil erosion, especially if the soil is bare around the tree. The leaves act as a partial barrier against the rainfall, thus reducing the speed and force of the rain droplets. Hence, the damage to the soil is minimized, and soil erosion is prevented. It is essential to correctly prune the tree, so it does not lose more of its leaf cover than required.

A professionally pruned tree is your best defense against climate change and its negative effects. Hence, it is recommended to hire a professional tree pruning company. We at American Tree Experts Inc offer various services, including pruning, nutrient management, and pest control. So call us today at 973-774-6091 and let us help you keep your trees healthy.

Learn tree cabling pros and cons to understand whether its needed or not

Trees add to the aesthetics of any landscape or home. However, they can also be a threat or danger in some cases. Tree cabling and bracing are effective methods to reduce the hazards of certain trees whilst keeping them in their natural environment.

Pros And Cons Of Tree Cabling

There are some pros and cons associated with the tree cabling process. Read more about them to find out whether your tree should be cabled or not.

Pros

Lengthens The Lifespan Of Trees

• Cabling can help increase the lifespan of a tree by preventing it from falling or having major branches break off. It also helps the tree manage its weight better so it doesn’t develop any bark conditions or crack in places.

Helps Make Trees Safe

• Trees can be a safety hazard at times if they lean too much or are too heavy at the top. They can fall over at any minute or have a thick branch fall off. Tree cabling ensures that these hazardous trees are made safe by holding the structure together and preventing accidents.

Required For Legal Compliance

• In some cases, certain trees need to be cabled to comply with local rules and regulations. The fines for not complying with these legalities can mount up a lot. Using tree cabling helps avoid any issues with the authorities in the long term.

A Good Alternative For Pruning

• In some cases, the tree is not in the right condition or season to be pruned. Early pruning may stunt the tree’s growth and cause issues. Hence, to keep the tree stable till pruning season, it can be cabled so that the structure remains intact till pruning season.

Helps Maintain The Tree’s Structure

• Lastly, tree cabling can help the tree maintain its structure. This ensures a beautiful and full crown that provides maximum shade without being a threat. It can also strengthen the tree for additional structures like swings and treehouses.

Cons

Tree Cabling Can Be Expensive

• Generally, tree cabling is an expensive procedure that should only be done on trees that are important to a locality or home. You do not want to have this procedure done on a tree that could be removed otherwise without losing anything substantial.

It’s A High Maintenance Procedure

• Tree cabling is a high maintenance procedure. This is because the tree continues to grow after it has been cabled. This means that it has to be monitored and controlled to ensure the cabling is still effective.

Unprofessional Cabling Can Cause Damage

• When having a tree cabled, you need to make sure that you hire a professional agency that can properly cable the tree. If the tree is not properly cabled, it can sustain damage to its structure and bark. Therefore it can end up becoming harmful in the long run.

May Need To Be Removed For Pruning

• When the time for pruning the tree arrives, removing the cabling can be expensive. It puts the entire effort to waste as the materials might not be used up again. Therefore consider how long you need the tree secured before going through with tree cabling.

At American Tree Experts, Inc. we offer the best services to keep your plants out of harm’s way. Our tree cabling service makes sure that your trees are secured and protected. Our most sought out services are pruning, bracing, pest management, and nutritional management. We offer services in Montclair, New Jersey. Call us at 973-744-6091 for a free quote.