Often, yes. Cabling and bracing can support a tree with a weak fork, a crack or heavy limbs, so it is less likely to split apart. Strong steel cables are installed high in the tree to limit how far the limbs can move, and steel rods can be added lower down to hold a split together. It works best before the tree fails, not after.
Many big old trees in Newton have two or three main trunks growing from one spot. Some of those forks are strong. Others are a split waiting to happen. Here is how to tell the difference and what can be done.
Why V-shaped forks are weak
When two trunks grow up close together in a tight V, bark gets trapped between them as they grow. Arborists call this “included bark.” The trapped bark keeps the wood from joining, so the fork is held together by much less wood than it looks. In a storm, or under ice and snow, a V-shaped fork can split right down the middle.
A wide, U-shaped fork is usually much stronger because the wood of the two trunks has grown together.
Signs a tree may need support
- A tight V-shaped fork with a line of bark down the middle.
- A crack running down from the fork.
- A long, heavy limb that reaches out over the house or driveway.
- A limb that bends a lot in the wind.
- A tree that has lost a large limb from a fork before.
How cabling and bracing work
Cabling
A steel cable is installed between two limbs or trunks, high up in the tree, usually about two thirds of the way from the fork to the ends of the branches. The cable doesn’t hold the tree rigid. It limits how far the limbs can spread apart in the wind, which takes stress off the fork.
Bracing
A brace is a threaded steel rod that goes through the trunk or limbs, closer to the fork. Rods are used to hold a cracked fork together or add strength where two trunks meet. Bracing is often combined with cabling.
Dave’s tip
Cables are not a “set it and forget it” fix. Have them checked regularly by an arborist, and right away after a big storm.
When cabling makes sense, and when it doesn’t
Cabling and bracing are a good choice for a healthy, valuable tree with a weak spot. It can buy many years for a tree your family planted or that shades your house.
It is not the right choice when the tree has serious decay in the trunk or roots, or when a split has already opened up badly. In those cases, removal may be the safer option. A consulting arborist can look at the tree and tell you honestly which way to go.
Pruning goes hand in hand with support
Cables work best when the tree is also pruned to reduce weight on the weak limbs. Removing dead wood and reducing long, heavy branches takes even more stress off the fork. Learn more about our pruning, cabling and bracing service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does tree cabling last?
A well-installed cable can last many years, but the tree keeps growing, so cables need to be checked and adjusted over time.
Does cabling hurt the tree?
When installed correctly, the small holes for the hardware cause very little harm compared to a split trunk. Modern hardware is designed to work with the tree as it grows.
Can a tree that has already split be saved?
Sometimes. If the split is small and the tree is healthy, bracing rods and cables may hold it together. If the split is large or the wood is decayed, removal is usually safer.
Can I install a tree cable myself?
No. Cables are installed high in the tree with special hardware and need the right tension and placement. This is work for a trained arborist.
Worried about a split or V-shaped tree? Request a free estimate and Dave will tell you whether it can be saved. Also see 8 warning signs your tree is in trouble.
