Wild trees do their thing. Urban trees? Well, sometimes they need our help. Trees that surround our homes, schools, and workplaces should be admired and protected. As winter storms blow through Indiana, urban trees can become damaged and a hazard to humans.
High winds, heavy snow, and icy rain can turn a winter wonderland into a danger zone. Branches, trunks, and entire trees can come down as a result of winter weather, damaging property and injuring people.
Cabling and bracing trees in preparation for winter storms are techniques tree professionals use to preserve mature trees and protect people.
What causes trees to be weak?
Preventing tree weakness is at the top of our priority list. In between professional inspections, however, trees may suffer damage that causes them to be weak and dangerous.
Here are some reasons trees become weak:
- Improper or DIY pruning
- Root systems’ inability to spread
- Cankers and disease
- Decay
- Storm damage
- Lightning
- Mechanical injuries
If any of the above apply to trees on your property, it’s important to have them inspected before wily weather hits.
What are signs of a tree that needs to be cabled or braced?
Survey the trees on your property regularly. This is more easily done in the late fall and early winter, once the tree is bare and the branches are exposed.
Here are signs of a tree that may need to be cabled or braced:
- Cracked or split branches
- Large cracks or splits in the tree’s trunk
- Visible signs of decay on trunk or branches
- Severely lopsided trees
- Uprooted trees
If any of these signs are visible on your trees, call a tree professional to assess the extent of bracing or cabling necessary.
How is a tree cabled?
Cabling is performed to the canopy of the tree. Galvanized steel support cables are secured between sturdy and weak branches. The cables redistribute the stress of the canopy while allowing it to move naturally with the wind. As the tree begins to fill out during the spring and summer, these cables become virtually invisible.
How is a tree braced?
Bracing is performed on a tree’s trunk. Steel support rods are driven through cracks in a tree’s trunk to offer additional support and to prevent the crack from widening or splitting completely.
Call a professional before it’s too late
Don’t wait until a branch falls through your roof, onto your car, or smashes a window to have your trees inspected. Before winter weather hits peak awfulness, call a tree professional to help you decide whether bracing or cabling is necessary for the safety of you and your trees.
