static cable system

S

shovelhead

Location
TN
I normally dont cable elms but this time did. a hackberry and elm were next to each other and each one had a large limb that had been rubbing for a long tome. it was bad enough that both had created indentations pockets and had CODIT.now we had to remove the hackberry and really didnt want to remove the elm,nor the elm limb that had been damaged by the rubbing. we decided to cable the elm to help support that limb. Now I am thinking we should have just removed the limb, but if we do, that wound will never heal due to the size of the cut. any body have a suggestion? I will try to get some pics today. Trying to explain what this limb looks like. Pictur crossing your forearms making an "X", now, take away one fore arm and imaginewhere they were rubbing there was an area where it was now a pocket (weak) area. that help? Thanks for any comments.
 
If you are worried about the strength of the indented area, perhaps a cable both above and below it would work. If the cut would be too large, better to keep the limb IMO.

-Tom
 
What about stubbing off the elm limb, let is sprout back, then train some sprouts to become decent laterals? I have done that on a few trees where I did not want to make a big cut near the trunk.. Worked out pretty well. It was better then loosing the limb or sticking a cable in.
 
I think a reduction on the limb is in order, but not a stub cut. We may go ahead and use a Cobra to work as a "tag" line in case of failure. Thanks for the comments....still pondering the situation.
 
There is more concern for crossing/rubbing limbs than they deserve in my experience.

For years I heard this as an item on the 'must cut' checklist. Then, I had the opportunity to work on a crossing limb that had to be removed because of storm damage further out on the limb. After the limb was cut and on the ground we ripped the limb. Think of it this way...look down from the top like a clock face. The wound went from about 5:00 to 7:00 around the circumference and was almost flat. The chunk was ripped from 6:00 to noon, vertically and then the halves were ripped at 3:00 and 9:00 through the center.

A few cross sections were cut too.

After looking at the wounds I saw VERY little decay moving away from the rub spot. If a similar sized wound was made from a branch removal I know that I would have see a large decay column. BUT...only a tiny bit of discolored wood in a rubbing situation.

After this I looked for other rubbing branches to dissect. The same thing...very little discoloration/decay.

This changed my view of crossing limbs. There MUST be another more compelling reason to cut off a rubbing limb. If there isn't then the limb stays. I have done a bit more aggressive reduction work on the heavier limb or the one that moves more. My goal is to reduce movement and continued damage to the cambium ring each spring. Bob Wulcowicz and I talked many times about the possibility of having both cambiums fuse and become one like in a grafting situation. If we could do things like this we could possibly create natural braces. think of that! We would be ADDING to the trees instead of what we do most of the time now...we subtract.
 
Interesting. since the hackberry is comming out would you think it may be worth mtigating that piece in somehow? Im not sure how that could be done without being very invasive which might make things worse...hmmmmm
 
this morning when I went to check it out there was a breese and before the cable was installed it was always moving but today it was very stable....
 
Crossovers grafting together happens naturally in dozens of tree species, euc and ficus just two examples, it's common in many conifers as well.

I've been rodding crossovers together big enough to effect canopy integrity in these trees since the 80's.

It's a good thing that actually increases the tree's structural integrity in my opinion.

ISA will come around to this view eventually.

jomoco
 
problem is the hackberry must be removed. So I believe what I have done with the cable is correct. BUT, if it breaks in a storm it may swing into the home which is about too close for comfort...still thinking tag....what do you guys think? I took some pics but wont have it up till tomorrow.
 
It would be an interesting experiment to see if two ficus planted next to each other and rodded together at the inevitable crossovers, could fuse together at that union?

Seems to me I've seen these crossover fusions between two neighboring trunks in eugenia hedges?

Interesting thread!

jomoco
 
I see huge ones in hackberry and all sorts of hardwoods here in TN. Yes I believe you will like the pics I have. Maybe we will get up in the tree and even get a closer look with the camera....thanks guys.......oh, would you add the tag line? Its a good precaution
 
[ QUOTE ]

ISA will come around to this view eventually.


[/ QUOTE ]

What do you mean by this?

Is it a reference to the ANSI-A300 Cabling and bracing standard or something else?
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

ISA will come around to this view eventually.


[/ QUOTE ]

What do you mean by this?

Is it a reference to the ANSI-A300 Cabling and bracing standard or something else?

[/ QUOTE ]

Am I mistaken that ansi pruning standards call for removal of crossovers?

It should be determined flexably according to species and structural or canopy integrity in my opinion Tom.

jomoco
 
cabling is dangerous and in my opinion is done far to much. at times where it should be removed sooner or later it has to be dealt with i have a friend in the ground from a cabled tree that should have been removed. yes there was some human error to there were precautions that werent taken and methods he deffinitely should have applied, but out of all the times ive cut and seen cables cut that was one of the very few times ive seen the piece instantly fail.it was a triple oak sprouting from one and he worked them down one at a time i would have been tied in one of the others but he didnt it was a very fridgid morning on culvers lake it was his last he spiked and turned all the way down to try to saty on the top side it turned just before impact crushing him.it made me sit back and take a long hard look at what i was doing but i was already addicted to the hype of climbing.sorry for making a story out of this but if it saves one life its worth it always treat the cable as if it is holding whatever up take the proper precautions
 
Wow, that is awful, I hate hearing that and will keep it in mind. We ended up installing a cobra below the static system just in case of failure.this way it will act as a "tag". I must say, you guys really help us to look at things from many angles, thanks again for the support...(no pun intended) be safe!
 
Tom, I believe you were the first to suggest another cable below this application we were questioning, so I kept that in mind as we pondered the situation. We just decided to use something less abrasive to the Elm. Thanks for your help! be safe!
 
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