Tree Care Program

Members on Forest Consultation Programs often ask us about how to best care for their favorite trees near their homes or yards. Often, we find that many of these trees have significant defects that are challenging to find qualified contractors or those in the tree care industry to mitigate. The Cabling Program is aimed at preserving large-sized individual trees that contain structural defects that are prone to failure. A common structural condition with a high risk of failure is a codominant stem, or weak junction often referred to as a “V-crotch.” Because of the lack of sufficient direct structural connections between the codominant stems, they are structurally weaker than a single stem or normal branch union, especially if bark is included between two or more stems. These unions may fail when pulled directly apart or when moved to the side (shearing). To mitigate this condition, a cable is installed to hold the two stems together and prolong the tree’s life.