Name: Koala Tree
Price range: $$$

Cabling is a way to add support to part of a tree that’s structurally weak. Done well, it can let a tree stay where it is for years. It has limits, and they matter.

What cabling is

A cable is installed high in the crown, between two stems or limbs, so they support each other. The aim is to limit how far a weak part can move in wind or under snow and ice, not to hold it rigid. Cables are usually steel or a synthetic material, and are installed with hardware placed through or around the wood. Bracing is a related method, using rods lower down to hold a split or weak union together.

When it helps

Weak unions, where two stems grow tightly together with bark trapped between them.
Long, heavy limbs that are sound but at risk of breaking under load.
Valued trees the owner wants to keep, where the alternative is removing a large part of the tree.

Cabling is often combined with pruning to reduce weight on the part being supported.

What it can’t do

It doesn’t fix decay. If a stem is hollow or rotting at the union, a cable may not hold, and removal may be the safer choice.
It doesn’t make a failing tree safe. Active cracks, major root problems and dying trees need a different answer.
It doesn’t replace pruning. A cable supports a tree; it doesn’t correct poor structure on its own.

A cable supports a tree. It doesn’t repair one.

Checking a cable over time

A cable is not install-and-forget. It should be inspected regularly, commonly about once a year and after major storms. The tree keeps growing, so hardware can need adjusting, and the parts being supported need checking for new cracks or decay. If a cabled tree changes, the plan should too.

A Koala Tree climber setting the tension on a tree cable — Hardware and cable placement are checked as the tree grows.

Who should install it

Cabling is work at height with specialised hardware, and a poorly placed cable can do more harm than good. It should be specified by an arborist and installed to current industry standards for tree support systems. Before cabling, the tree should be assessed to make sure it’s a good candidate at all.

Key takeaways

Cabling, in five lines

A cable limits movement of a weak union or heavy limb.
It works best on sound wood, often with pruning to reduce weight.
It doesn’t fix decay or make a failing tree safe.
Cables need inspecting, commonly once a year and after storms.
Have the tree assessed first to see if it’s a good candidate.

This is general information. Every tree and site is different. For advice on a specific tree, get a free quote or book a Certified Arborist Assessment.

About the author

Jason Korkidakis

Jason is Koala Tree’s Owner and Lead Arborist in London, ON. He leads an 8-person crew and assesses trees for homeowners, condo boards and property managers.

ISA Certified Arborist ON-3263ATRAQ qualifiedPPQ qualified

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