To cable or not to cable?

[macrocarpa]

Would you recommend cabling this river birch or just prune only? If you would recommend cabling, what system would you install/cable(s) arrangement with the 4 stems? I’m going to propose pruning for weight reduction and the usual deadwood/thinning/elevating.

I will say I do not see river birch split out in these parts.

(I don’t know why the photos downloaded horizontally)

 

[Serf Life]

Select the photo to upload, then choose "large" to get it rightside up. Just started having that issue after countless uploads (?).

 

[ATH]

I agree that River birch don't break real often.

Also...with that tree, by the time you get high enough the branches will be pretty small.

Is it heavier towards the house or away from the house?

I'm leaning to pruning only.

 

[Bendroctanus]

I’m leaning towards the One Cut Prune…

 

[macrocarpa]

I agree that River birch don't break real often.

Also...with that tree, by the time you get high enough the branches will be pretty small.

Is it heavier towards the house or away from the house?

I'm leaning to pruning only.

The two main stems are pretty equally loaded. The one stem is leaning over the house, but I think I could take quite a bit of weight off with reducing lateral branches.

 

[flyingmosstreen]

I’m leaning towards the One Cut Prune…

The basal prune haha

 

[evo]

Would you recommend cabling this river birch or just prune only? If you would recommend cabling, what system would you install/cable(s) arrangement with the 4 stems? I’m going to propose pruning for weight reduction and the usual deadwood/thinning/elevating.

I will say I do not see river birch split out in these parts.

(I don’t know why the photos downloaded horizontally)

I wouldn’t cable. The “anchor” stem has a narrow union 90 to the potential direction of force to the house. A steel system would add hinging forces like opening a book.
A dynamic system would be kinda wonky.
Just for brainstorming a floating hub so when the house side stem moves it is more or less pulling the anchor side together vs adding torsion to the union could be considered.
Reduction pruning probably is the best option

We don’t have a lot of river birch here, but my experience with them is they are very ‘elastic’ wood fiber trees. I removed one that had a splitting union peel open by about 5’ apart with a big ole crack. Brought up chain binders and the works, the callus had 5 rigs near the apex. Just slowly listing apart for 5 years over the clients house. Had to rig from it bigger than I would have liked, but it was fun solid.