Cabling Trees: Good or Bad?

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

So, I work at a young up and coming tree company in northern Indiana. Both my boss and I are certified arborists and we strive to do everything by the book. After several years of studying, discussing and learning about cabling trees we have begun to cable a few trees in our area. My question is, do you think cabling trees is a good practice as a whole? My biggest concern about cabling trees is that eventually the tree will need to be removed someday. I’ve even removed a few trees that had been cabled. Removing a tree that has been cabled is very dangerous in my opinion because they can be very unpredictable. Should we even be cabling these trees at all? Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Jem4417]

age Of the tree is huge. Cable too young and your causing a problem

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

age Of the tree is huge. Cable too young and your causing a problem

Interesting point. I actually very recently had a client literally beg me to cable her young Mimosa tree that had failed in a storm. (I know you southerners consider this a “junk” or “weed” tree, but up here in northern Indiana this tree is very hard to come by and it can grow here if the homeowner wants to put the effort in.) Anyway, I rigged up her tree using the Tree Guard rope system. My thought was that this tree might be able to recover to a point where the system could eventually be taken out? I didn’t know if that was ever something that was done in arboriculture. I was open with this client that I was more experimenting with her tree and she agreed.

 

[CanadianStan]

Well to answer your first question, every tree eventually dies. If there’s targets nearby then yes it will probably need to be removed

There’s a time and place for (steel) cabling. For a tree of high historic, cultural or sentimental value, static cabling can extend an otherwise unstable tree’s useful lifespan

On the flip side, if you’re trying to simply “failure-proof” a young / semi-mature tree, then structural pruning with adequate over-extended limb reductions will yield a better long term result. In a tree that is maybe already past this point, non-invasive / dynamic cabling may be the best option. It allows the tree to continue to develop reaction wood when the wind blows but also prevents excessive range of motion that would otherwise be catastrophic.

Note to users: non invasive cabling has a much shorter usable lifespan due to materials. General manufacturer rule of thumb is a yearly inspection and full replacement every 5 years, or as necessary (squirrels are assholes).

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Cabling is part of what we do as arborists. Knowing when to install steel (static) or rope (dynamic) is part of the knowledge that we must learn on our own from experience. Even the standards are lacking (still) on the discussion of the various dynamic systems.

From the wording of your question (I may be wrong) but is sounds to me that you are looking at cables from the wrong end (removal side). We are being put to task to preserve a tree for a client if that means pruning (proper reductions) so be it. If that means cabling so be it (pruning almost always goes with cables). We many times will sell both pruning and cabling together, do the pruning and determine we have accomplished our goal without the cables and explain that to the homeowner.

If we are asked for an opinion on what to do about a tree we should be giving the owner information on both preservation and if need be removal. Let them make that decision. This summer we gave a pruning and removal (my preference on this tree) price on a tree. HO wanted it pruned. Climber got up in it and said no way. Took pictures and came down. Showed the pictures to the homeowner and they agreed, it was removed 2 weeks later.

In addition a cable isn’t going to make a removal any more or less dangerous and may even make the tree much more predictable with its reaction to rigging. Yes it will add an immovable obstacle to which you must pay attention to. But knowing how to mitigate that obstacle (just like any other we deal with) is key to the removal going well. It’s important not to just go up there and cut it! Understand it was put there by you or someone else for a reason, it’s going to help tie the tree together until you get some weight off. You will know when the time is right to remove it, the tree will stand on its own with little to no help. If not you may have to install temporary support as you proceed down the tree, yes a pain in the tookas but it’s what we do.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Interesting point. I actually very recently had a client literally beg me to cable her young Mimosa tree that had failed in a storm. (I know you southerners consider this a “junk” or “weed” tree, but up here in northern Indiana this tree is very hard to come by and it can grow here if the homeowner wants to put the effort in.) Anyway, I rigged up her tree using the Tree Guard rope system. My thought was that this tree might be able to recover to a point where the system could eventually be taken out? I didn’t know if that was ever something that was done in arboriculture. I was open with this client that I was more experimenting with her tree and she agreed.

A couple through bolts would actually probably help it stabilize that union a bit to allow it to heal. Even just one (look at the standard for size and number) toward the top to prevent any movement which can damage any calus wood that forms.

 

[JD3000]

pain in the tookas

Made my morning.

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

Y

A couple through bolts would actually probably help it stabilize that union a bit to allow it to heal. Even just one (look at the standard for size and number) toward the top to prevent any movement which can damage any calus wood that forms.

Yes, that’s exactly what I did on this tree. Thanks for the feedback. I was back and forth on whether or not to install a bolt.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Cabling and bracing are proper accepted practices

There is a lot of talk about taking on the liability for potential future damages. The legal system determines that. I’ve always maintained that not following currently accepted trade practices and standards will put a company at higher risk

 

[evo]

Cabling and bracing are proper accepted practices

There is a lot of talk about taking on the liability for potential future damages. The legal system determines that. I’ve always maintained that not following currently accepted trade practices and standards will put a company at higher risk

Yes, This is common as well as if there is a failure associated with the tree the insurance companies will see it as a known risk and wont insure for the damages.
I have 0 experiences with any of the above. However, I did have one anchor side fail with a dynamic cable, it held the failed part and kept it from crushing a fence. While it wasn't the best placement, it certainly mitigated damages. I've removed a few trees with cabling systems, good and poor, but they all have bought many years to the trees life.
I always stress the point that what we are doing to the tree is adding engineered mechanical support to a reactive living structure. At worse we can get another 5, 10, 15 years of benefit from retaining the tree, at best the system if maintained well could out last that by many more decades.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Yes, This is common as well as if there is a failure associated with the tree the insurance companies will see it as a known risk and wont insure for the damages.
I have 0 experiences with any of the above. However, I did have one anchor side fail with a dynamic cable, it held the failed part and kept it from crushing a fence. While it wasn't the best placement, it certainly mitigated damages. I've removed a few trees with cabling systems, good and poor, but they all have bought many years to the trees life.
I always stress the point that what we are doing to the tree is adding engineered mechanical support to a reactive living structure. At worse we can get another 5, 10, 15 years of benefit from retaining the tree, at best the system if maintained well could out last that by many more decades.

We also explain the industry says to inspect “periodically” and for us that means biannual on static and annually on dynamic systems. The costs associated with support systems and the responsibility to schedule those inspections fall on the HO. Another important wording we tend to use as well is, the support system is not intended to prevent every failure, but instead intended to reduce the consequences of a major failure in the event a severe storm blows through.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Good points @evo and @flyingsquirrel25