Cabling and bracing are used to protect and reduce the risk of tree failure resulting from the following reasons:
- Structural weaknesses (V-shaped weak crotch in two attached limbs)
- Storm damage (very common and normally brings big damage to trees)
- Mechanical injury
- Long and heavy limbs
Cabling helps in protecting the tree from high winds and heavy snow weight by reducing stress. It involves the installing of steel cables between the main limbs, to give extra support to the tree.
Bracing is mainly used to give direct support and to reduce the twisting strain on the tree by inserting a metal rod through the weak crotch and by installing extra cable above it, to protect tree from large, weak, or split crotches.
