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Here are 4 sure-shot signs your tree need cabling and bracing for support
Deeply rooted and mature trees are quite powerful and do not budge easily. However, some trees can become structurally weak due to disease or prolonged exposure to strong winds and other damaging environmental factors. Such trees need a little extra support to gain structural integrity and not be a risk to nearby properties and people.
Tree cabling and bracing is a proactive and preventive technique that involves the use of flexible steel strand cables to provide structural stability to the tree. As a result, the tree becomes less susceptible to damage from high winds, ice and snow. The tree remains upright and sturdy.
If you are wondering whether your tree needs cabling and bracing, look out for the following telltale signs. These signs are usually indicative that your tree is in need of extra support.
1. Storm Damage
- The force of the winds in a heavy storm can cause the branches or crotch of trees to split. A dangling branch is a safety hazard. It can be fixed with the help of brace rods and cables that can hold the damaged sections of the tree together. This extra support will enable the tree to heal and prevent trunk failure. Cabling a dangling branch will also restrict its movement during high winds. Hence, a tree that has suffered from considerable storm damage is an ideal candidate for getting cabling and bracing.
2. Presence of A V-Crotch Stem
- A v-crotch stem is a type of tree alignment in which two large stems come out of the same trunk, making a V-like shape. Due to the division of the trunk into two stems, there is little tissue to support either of the stems and both stems are structurally weak. Heavy winds can cause either or both stems to fall off.
To prevent the stems from falling off, cabling and bracing can be used to support the v-crotch stem. The tension from the cables provides additional support to the off-shoot stems and keeps them in their place when winds are blowing.
3. Severe Lean
- As trees mature, they may develop a natural lean towards the right or left side. Trees usually tilt on the side where they gain more exposure to sunlight. Trees with a severe lean present a safety hazard. Due to the shift in their center of gravity, they become less stable and a branch or stem may snap and fall on nearby property.
Soil erosion or storms weakens the trees anchorage into the soil. This can also cause trees to lean on one side. This is a particularly dangerous situation as trees can now fall on a nearby structure with a little push. Cabling and bracing the tree in the opposite direction can bring a balance to the three and make it more stable.
4. Overextended Limbs
- As trees mature, their vertical growth stops and they only expand horizontally. As a result, the limbs can sometimes outgrow the trunk and become too heavy to bear. Overextended limbs are wobbly and dangling and may snap during a windy season. Cabling and bracing can provide support to these overextended limbs and prevent them from breaking off.
If you spot these warning signs in your trees and plants, contact American Tree Experts for cabling and bracing services. Our experts will conduct a thorough survey of the trees and propose the right methodologies for bracing your plants. Call us at 973-744-6091 to get a free estimate of the services. We operate in Montclair, New Jersey, and nearby areas.