Guying trees

TreeJunkie

TreeJunkie

Location
Overland Park, Kansas
I have a customer who has an ash tree which needs to be guyed/ cabled to the ground. Reason is the cable co. came along and dug up a fair majority of the root system while doing there work. I worry that with strong winds the tree has a potential to topple over. Targets are minimal, however, the customer values the tree and this should add a bit of security to the situation.

My question is what type of cabling products have others used in the past for similar type of situations. I'm looking for something professional looking and non-invasive.

Tree in question is approx 7-8" dia. and 20ft tall...
 
This should be pretty easy...the tree is still young, so it should recuperate from the damage "relatively" quickly. Yes, you don't want the tree to fall now. But perhaps MORE importantly, you don't want the tree to become dependant on the guy system you install, or else you'll be doing the client a dis-service.

Make sure that however you guy it, it still can move in the wind. Do you plan on guying it from 2 or 3 sides? Or just on the side they dug up?

Depending on the clients perspective, you might urge them to consider looks as secondary, since it's a temporary system. The best would be a thin steel cable, that'd blend in the most, but wouldn't let the tree move much.

What about the duckbill anchors?

love
nick
 
I have fixed young damaged trees by pressing 180cm poles (on angle inwards) into the ground around the rootball. Then a strapping fixed under soil level to the poles and with spanners thightened over the rootball. After a few years you might remove it to prevent the straps growing into the roots.(growing roots around the straps :) Its just the same system on a larger scale like duckbill anchors.

[edit] i forgot to mention i made a 'pressure' frame from timber first over the rootbal, then over that the strapping.
 
Brandon,

I too have done this with anchors and cobra. The idea that it is visible is a good thing. If the anchor is on the edge of lawn space or whatever, it needs to be visible to lawn mowing crews or pedestrians. Don't worry too much about that. Plus, it is non-invassive and can be cut off after a year or so without any problem.
 
I'd use arbortie spiraled on the trunk to lessen constriction. Anchored to a 2' rebar. 2 strands, one on either side of the worst root severance.

Soft support.
 
[ QUOTE ]


Tree in question is approx 7-8" dia. and 20ft tall...

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Brandon, I would be reluctant to use any commercial cabling/guying systems for a tree of this size.

Using Cobra in this situation is like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

How close is the trenching to the stem?
How deep is trenching?

Is the tree really going to be susceptable to windthrow?
How big is crown of the tree?
What type of tree is it? Skinny dense conifer? or spreading crown hardwood?

Could'nt you just rig up a homemade guying system using wooden stakes, and static rope with a cambium saver round the stem?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have fixed young damaged trees by pressing 180cm poles (on angle inwards) into the ground around the rootball. Then a strapping fixed under soil level to the poles and with spanners thightened over the rootball. After a few years you might remove it to prevent the straps growing into the roots.(growing roots around the straps :) Its just the same system on a larger scale like duckbill anchors.

[edit] i forgot to mention i made a 'pressure' frame from timber first over the rootbal, then over that the strapping.

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't the duckbill make this type of system for the rootballs?
 
Brandon, at isa conf last year there was a poster on using 2x2's underground to anchor the rootball. The research shows that if the roots are held too tightly to move, that inhibits taper development.
 
We are working on a project in French Lick, Indiana in which the customer needs to save a 18" Red Oak that is lifting up out of the ground due to construction damage.

We suggested removing the tree but the client needs to keep the tree for historical tax credits or something like it.

The had two custom posts fabricated for us to attach the cable. We are using Rigguy ends in the tree and dead ends on the steel posts.

I will post a picture when the job is complete.
 
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