Tree Support
Tree Support (Cabling & Bracing)
Supporting a tree in conjunction with pruning for weight reduction is an effective way to mitigate the typical catastrophic tree failures we experiences after the 2022 Derecho. In our conservative estimation 50% of the tree failures resulted because trees were not supported or pruned early on to correct poor structure. Not one of the trees supported by Urban Tree Works failed after the 2022 Derecho.
Bracing usually involves drilling into the main trunk just below a week union that is showing signs of failure and inserting a threaded rod. The union is compressed by tightening machine nuts at either end. The size of the threaded rod varies from 1/2” to ¾” threaded rod depending on the diameter of the trunk. If more than one threaded rod is required then they are spaced 12” apart and staggered along the length of the trunk.
Cabling
Installing cables in the upper canopy is a cost effective means of supporting the dynamic loads the superstructure of a tree experiences from wind shear, as well as the static loads from the trees own weight.
At Urban Tree Works we follow ANSI A300 standards for tree supports and use the most modern systems.
Two types of cables are used.
High Strength Steel (HSS)
High Strength Steel (HSS) cable with “Rig Guy” termination, and a tensile strength of 11,000 lbs.
Why many trees in Ottawa are falling…..
Dynamic Cable
Dynamic cable uses a rope splicing lock stich in order to make the support system adjustable as the tree continues to grow. While the tensile strength is comparable (10,000lbs) it can be desirable to adjust the cable so that it only comes under tension when the tree is impacted by wind. Similar to us humans, always wearing back braces makes us weak. Studies have shown that mechanical disturbances in a tree causes ethylene build up that stimulates the development of certain structural ground tissue.
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