Why Should Tree Cabling Be Left to the Professionals?
Do you have an unstable tree on your property? Are you thinking about removing it because you’re afraid it’ll split and fall? Well don’t break out your axe and chainsaw just yet. In many cases, we can save your tree by supporting compromised limbs with tree cables.
Tree cabling might seem like an easy project, but it’s much safer to leave this job to an arborist—especially if your tree is large or in a busy area. If you don’t have the right skills, equipment, and experience, you could seriously hurt yourself, your tree, your property, or people nearby.
In this blog, we’ll go over why it’s best to leave tree services to a professional arborist. Let’s start by going over the tree safety risks:
Tree Safety Risks
The most important reason to leave tree cabling to a professional arborist is that it’s a dangerous job. Cabling involves climbing tall trees and working with heavy equipment. You could fall and get seriously injured if you don’t have experience climbing and maneuvering. Our arborists are trained to climb trees safely, with harnesses and rigging systems. We also have a lot of experience carrying heavy tools in trees.
Amateur tree cabling isn’t just risky for the installer—it can also put people nearby in danger. Heavy branches can snap if you install the cables incorrectly or too low. Another danger is that the tree cable itself could snap. Cheap, poorly installed cables can whip back like a slingshot, striking people nearby. We use quality cables and install them the right way to give your trees the support they need. Our team is also licensed and insured for these kinds of jobs.
Tree Cables Aren’t Easy to Install
Tree cable installations might look easy, but it’s harder than it looks. Plus, you can do more harm than good if you cable a tree the wrong way. Professional arborists know where to place cables, what type of cabling system to use, and how to install the hardware to minimize damage to your tree:
Cable Placement
Before we do anything, our arborists evaluate your tree’s structure to determine exactly where it needs reinforcement. For example, if you have a large tree with two trunks growing from the same base, it may need reinforcement high in the canopy. If placed too low, the cables would fail to reduce the stress. If placed incorrectly, the cables might even concentrate the stress on weaker wood, leading to structural failure.
Types of Cabling Systems
Once we’ve determined where the cables need to go, we decide which type of cabling system to use. There are two main types of cables—steel and synthetic cables. Steel cables are strong and rigid, while synthetic cables are more flexible. Steel cables are ideal for older, heavier trees that have large stems and need a lot of support. We use synthetic rope cables for younger trees that could use some support but need room to grow.
Hardware Installation
Finally, we have to install the cable hardware in a way that minimizes the damage to your tree. To secure the cables, we drill bolts into the tree at specific depths and angles. Using the wrong size bolts or drilling too deep can compromise your tree and make it more prone to infections.
Arborists Know How to Avoid Tree Damage
As we just mentioned, cabling involves drilling bolts into the tree to secure the cables. Wounding the tree is inevitable, but we want to minimize that damage since drilling into a tree can make it more vulnerable to pests and fungi. Professional arborists know how different species will respond to drilling and cabling. Some trees heal quickly, while others stay vulnerable to infections for years. We’ll evaluate your trees and determine whether cabling is a viable solution.
We also take your tree’s age into consideration. If your tree isn’t fully grown, it will continue growing after you cable it. If you’re inexperienced installing cables, you might make the cables too tight, choking the tree over time. Certified arborists know how to account for growth when cabling trees. If your tree is still growing, we’ll most likely use synthetic cables and make them looser, giving your tree room to grow.
Tree care is all about balance. We want to offer the tree support, while not harming the tree or weakening the tree’s ability to naturally support itself. Our team balances tree cabling with pruning to support your trees without harming their long-term tree health and growth.
Arborists Know Tree Health and What Your Tree Needs
No two trees are alike. Even trees of the same species will differ in size, shape, age, and soil health. When you partner with Joseph Tree, we take all these factors into consideration before cabling your tree.
We’ll analyze your tree’s species, the directions its branches are growing, the angle of its stems, the weight distribution of its canopy, and even your tree’s wind exposure and soil stability. After looking at all these factors, we’ll decide whether bracing, pruning, or a combination of both are the best solution for your tree.
Another perk of hiring a professional arborist is that you can schedule regular inspections to make sure your tree is staying healthy with its new cabling system. We’ll visit your property to adjust the cables and prune when needed.
When you hire a certified arborist, you can rest easy knowing your tree isn’t just getting patched up. We’ll be keeping an eye on its long-term health and safety. And if a tree emergency arises, you’ll have an expert you can call for help.
Contact Joseph Tree Today
Tree Cabling Services in Columbus Ohio
Looking for a professional arborist in the Columbus area? Contact Joseph Tree for a free estimate on tree cabling services today. Our team will visit your property, take a look at your trees, and quickly determine whether cabling, pruning, or tree removal is the right solution.