Why Cable and Brace Trees?

  • To avoid failure of weak branch unions
  • To maintain structural integrity of trees with narrow angle unions and included bark
  • To avoid excess movement resulting in failures
  • To secure horizontal branches subject to heavy loading

Cabling and bracing is the installation of flexible steel strand cables and braces in trees to reduce stress damage from high winds, the weight of ice or snow, and heavy foliage. As arborists, our goal is to help strengthen weak branches or limbs so that they are better able to withstand severe weather and to improve their longevity and reduce potential risk.

Weak limbs are not always obvious, so you should contact your local professional arborist to assess your trees. Your local tree doctor can help you identify particular weak points, and examine bark or large co-dominant stems, which can be signals of tree weakness.

Maintenance following cable and brace installation is minimal but also important, and the hardware should be inspected periodically by a professional arborist.