cable vid, want opinions please?

[macrocarpa]

I recently got a helmet cam and am making vids to put on my web page. This is the 1st cable job i've got since having the camera. Not ideal, but it will work until I get a better/bigger cable job to record. Just want customers to be able to see the purpose and how it works.

Any concerns with this installation, opinions on if its a decent representaion of what a cable does?

Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLbcuxuuVWM

 

[robinia]

Good job. I think that's pretty easy to follow.

I don't know if the average home owner cares for all the specs like tensile strength, longevity, moving it up, etc?

Looks like you should make a bracing rod video as well...

 

[macrocarpa]

Yep, that tree needs bracing too.

 

[RopeShield]

Just throwing this out there, how about an endless loop on the next one? MB less material, more strength and more shock absorption.

 

[southsoundtree]

Good video. I liked it. The splicing fast motion was cool.

From an average homeowner's perspective, "What's a growth loop? What does it do?" I'd mention that it needs inspection after "X" year intervals, and possible maintenance/ replacement after possibly (species specific) "Y" years.

Also, for an average homeowner, an introduction with some still shots or video of the finished system to start would help. It would present as "this is the end result of what I'm talking about when I say 'cabling system'. Here is a picture of the defect. The cable is like a seatbelt for a tree, reducing the risk of major damage. This is how its installed (show splicing).

Be careful of unexplain technical jargon and pronouns with something foreign to people.

"subordinating it"

Important people to ask are laypeople. They will give you a better reflection of a homeowner's perspective.

Overall, a good job!

 

[macrocarpa]

Good advise, thanks.

Next cable job I'll explain a little more and show a shot of the entire tree labeling where the cable is. And maybe show a pic of an included bark tree that has split too.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Nice commentary. I liked it.

 

[NickfromWI]

I liked it. Sean's advice is good: explain the growth loop thing and define "subordinate."

Looks professional and easy to follow.

If it were me, I'd be really tempted to still subordinate the top 1/3 or 1/2 of one of the leads. That tree is big, but not BIG. Not sure how big they get in your area, but it doesn't seem to late to make "corrective" cuts.

love
nick

 

[nuthin_special]

I agree that the tree should have a bracing rod installed as well.

i also agree that a tree that size should have one leader subordinated. It would be nice to prune it again in 5 years and subordinate further then when the life of the cable is up, another one might not have to be installed. Certainly it wouldn't with two subordinating cuts and one bracing rod at the crotch. With that plan, you'd have to put the cable much lower than 2/3 from the crotch.

For a website, nice video, maybe a bit too long. People don't have patience for videos longer than 8 seconds.

v

 

[macrocarpa]

I was thinking about making a subordinating cut, but does it hurt anything to have the cable way up at the top of the leader that would be subordinated? And will the included bark area ever get better/stronger? (i dont think so, it could rely on the bracing system though)

I think back to a 3 in caliper red maple tree I pruned several years ago. Took one of the double leaders completely off, the other side then blew over anyway in a windstorm less than 1 year later. Even though there was not another leader to add stress and push apart, the remaining side still didn't even have enough holding stregnth to support itself. Thats why i am skeptic to completely rely on a bracing system in a situation like this one. But maybe as the central leader grows, and the subordinated side stops/slows growth, the central leader can add holding stregnth on the included side?

(not arguing, just learning)

 

[allmark]

for the website maybe a pic of a tree that failed with incl bark too.. Other than that good idea

 

[NickfromWI]

[ QUOTE ]
..But maybe as the central leader grows, and the subordinated side stops/slows growth, the central leader can add holding stregnth on the included side?...

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the idea. Trunk diameter increase is fed by the canopy/foliage connected to that particular stem. Remove the feeding factory and it can't grow as much. In the mean time, the one you leave will grow MORE canopy. One day you'll come back and notice a difference between the thicknesses of the two stems. How old is the tree in the vid? 20 yrs? In tree terms, it is still a kid. It looks big to us, but it's just a kid. Maybe a teenager.

[ QUOTE ]
...For a website, nice video, maybe a bit too long. People don't have patience for videos longer than 8 seconds...

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. On average, yes, you're right. But you're not aiming for the average joe-schmo here. If you have someone that has identified that they have a problem-tree and you might be able to help, they are now vested in what you are explaining. From what I've seen, interested people eat that up. If they are just cruising your site for the heck of it, yeah- they won't watch it, but if they area just cruising, then they aren't REALLY interested in you...just happen to be there.

I think it's good. I might put it up on MY website!!

love
nick