Had an old oak split right down the middle during a storm last June and a local guy showed me how to cable it properly

2 comments

2 Comments

Cabling a tree sounds fancy until you realize it's basically just giving the thing a really big belt and suspenders. Hope that oak doesn't get any ideas about trying that split again.

cole_bailey852d ago

And that's exactly why I'd be careful about who does the cabling for you, because I've seen guys throw a cheap cable in and call it a day without thinking about the crown reduction you usually gotta pair with it. If you don't lighten up the heavy limbs on the other side, that cable just becomes a pivot point for the next big gust to snap something higher up instead of splitting the trunk again. Storm last June probably saved you from a worse problem down the line, honestly, since a lot of old oaks rot from the inside out and the split let you see what you're working with. The tension from the cable can actually help the tree seal over the crack better if you give it a couple years and keep an eye on the wound. Just make sure you check those bolts every spring because if they start backing out, the whole setup can fail way quicker than people expect.