When it comes to property damage from falling trees, our Giroud Arborists often come across disasters that could have been prevented. One of the best ways to make sure your trees don’t crack and split is with cabling. Read on to see how one homeowner in Ivyland worked with Giroud to take preventative measures to prevent possible future problems with their Maple Tree!

An Important Tree at Risk

A large, beautiful Maple Tree is the focal point of this property in Ivyland, PA. Last week, as the leaves were beginning to change from green to autumn reds and yellows, the Giroud crew was busy cleaning it up in preparation for the upcoming winter.

Bill Santry, Giroud Tree Crew Leader, worked with climber, Ron Cameron, to carefully prune out the deadwood from the tree. Then, Ron connected a cable between a large, heavy branch and the main trunk of the tree. This branch being cabled is otherwise healthy and has been leafing out nicely each year. But, without any added support, the sheer weight of the branch could cause it to crack off in the upcoming winter storm season. Now, the branch is secure, and the homeowners can rest easy knowing their property is much safer!

Why Some Trees Need Cabling

 Co-dominant Leaders: If your tree has two or more main leaders or trunks, it may be at high risk for splitting apart. The area where the leaders divide is often a major weak spot for a tree.

Overextended, Weakly Attached Limbs: Sometimes a limb that extends from the main trunk may experience aggressive growth. If this limb becomes too big, the weight becomes too much for the trunk to bear and the limb snaps.  If caught in time, this limb can be cabled to the main trunk which will ease the weight distribution and prevent breakage.

Some trees are just more susceptible to breakage: Just about any tree with weakly attached limbs or more than one main trunk is at risk for splitting apart or losing major limbs. Check out this report by the University of Illinois which highlights which trees are more at risk for breakage than others.

For more information, check out Giroud’s Blog Post Why You May Need to Cable Your Tree!

Should You Cable Your Tree?

Oftentimes, homeowners have no idea that their tree is a threat, which is why you should have your trees inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist on a regular basis. If he sees a concern, he may recommend cabling to prevent a disaster later. Here are some reasons why:

–Safety Hazard: People underneath weak limbs can get seriously hurt when branches break.

–Financial Burden: When large limbs and leaders break, they can land on a roof, shed, car or fence. The financial costs that come with falling trees can add up quickly!

–Time is Money: Dealing with contractors, insurance companies, and days lost at work trying to clean up the mess from a fallen tree takes a lot of your time!

Tree Inspections are Important

Installing cables in weak limbs is often the best way to prevent trees from splitting and breaking apart. Tree cables are like a safety net for trees! By reducing the strain on weak limbs, tree cables prevent the limbs from splitting and causing damage or complete tree failure. For cracked trunks, a through bolt helps to keep the trunk from splitting apart.

Giroud Tree and Lawn is your tree cabling expert!  Giroud’s tree cabling services provide you with everything you need to know about tree cabling and how the tree cables work to give the tree much needed support. Best of all, our service guarantee ensures that you are satisfied and informed throughout the process.

Call 215-682-7704 today to schedule your FREE inspection!

Is your tree already cabled? Annual inspections are vital!

Cable hardware wears down over time. Tree health and structural integrity can also change. For safety and performance, tree cable supports must be inspected annually. Inspections are always FREE!