When storm season hits California, the gusts of wind and the saturated soil can put a great amount of stress on your trees. If you have large, mature trees surrounding your home, the fear of large branches or even entire trunks coming down is more than justified—it can become a reality very easily.
Fortunately, just because a tree has a few giant limbs that seem to be at risk of falling doesn’t mean the entire tree is going to have to come down. When a tree is still structurally sound but has a few weak areas, cabling and bracing is often a great way of saving the tree while also mitigating the risk. Alan Quality Tree Care is here to handle all of your tree-related needs. Let’s take a look at how cabling and bracing can help you.
Understanding Tree Cabling and Bracing
Tree cabling and tree bracing, while often used together, are actually have two different purposes.
Tree cabling uses high-strength steel or synthetic cables. These cables are connected to two large limbs, and the goal is to prevent either from moving too much. This reduces the pendulum effect that can occur with branches during high winds.
Tree bracing, on the other hand, is more rigid. Threaded steel rods are installed through a weak area of a tree, often a V where two trunks meet or where a trunk has split. These rods provide support to the trunk and prevent further cracking.
Together, cabling and bracing are a safety net that helps to redistribute a tree’s weight and prevent further stress.
Why Storm-Prevention Cabling Matters in California
California has a number of fairly heavy trees. These oaks, eucalyptus, and others carry an incredible amount of weight in their upper canopies and branches. When the climate changes from dry and hot to heavy rains, the limbs can become even heavier as the water soaks into them.
Cabling can help keep trees that are known as included bark trees. This is when two branches or stems grow very close together but aren’t one solid trunk. Instead, there’s a V area that is prone to splitting. Professional cabling can reinforce this split, helping it withstand the storms.
The Tree Risk Mitigation Process
What makes a tree a good candidate for cabling or bracing? While some may recommend removing the tree if it appears to have any risk of falling, we know there are often emotional connections to older trees. You may have great memories associated with a tree, or you might simply want to keep it. If it can be saved, we will do everything we can to do so safely.
- First, we look for the V shaped splits and other cracks.
- Next, we determine the weight and tension of the tree and the affected areas to make certain we can place the hardware in the best place.
- Finally, we install high-grade cables and other materials.
Benefits of Tree Cabling and Bracing
The main benefit of cabling and bracing is safety. You’re able to keep the tree while protecting your roof, your cars, your neighbor’s property, and more. Tree cabling also extends the life of your tree. It’s a type of proactive investment that can be much more affordable than removing a huge, heavy limb from your roof or, more realistically, from the inside of your home after your roof collapsed from the weight.
Professional Tree Cabling in California: What to Expect
What can you expect when you call in Alan Quality Tree Care? First, you’re not simply getting hardware from a local store. We use industry standard cabling that meets all safety requirements. We also understand that cabling and bracing aren’t one-time events. Trees are living, growing things, and we will schedule regular inspections and recommend cable replacements when needed.
Choosing the Right Tree Care Expert
Properly installing a cable or a brace requires knowledge and skill. It’s not a DIY project, and it isn’t something you want to leave to someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. You want a certified arborist with experience in installing structural support systems. Otherwise, you run the risk of the work actually damaging the tree farther.
If you believe you have trees that could benefit from cabling or bracing, or you are concerned that one of your trees may fall, reach out to Alan Quality Tree Care today. We will assess the trees and determine the best next steps.