CABLING AND BRACING ….. THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The best solution for reducing the possibility of storm
damage is to train a tree when it is young. Proper pruning when a tree is young eliminates weak limbs, balances the tree, and establishes a structure that can withstand heavy winds. How common is
this practice in everyday life? Unfortunately, it's quite rare to say the least!Often, as a tree grows in height and girth, it develops traits which could lead to major problems if
located near structures or areas of traffic (or other trees!). Poorly joined co-dominant leaders, excessive lateral weight, and weakly attached limbs in the canopy are situations that should be closely
examined by a trained arborist. If it is determined that drastic corrective pruning would be too severe a shock for the tree, sometimes we can offer an alternate solution. Installation of cables and bracing should only
be attempted if the resulting situation will be a structurally sound tree. The idea of "shoring up" a tree is a dangerous one at best. Always consult a professional arborist to determine what the situation calls for.
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