Changed my tune on cable bracing after a big oak came down

I used to think cable bracing was a waste of time and money, just a way for companies to upsell homeowners. Then a huge red oak I passed on bracing last spring in Nashville split right down the middle during a storm in August. The whole thing took out a fence and part of a porch, cost the homeowner about $4,000 in damage. That was the moment I realized I was being stubborn and ignoring the data from ISA. Now I actually recommend it for trees with bad crotch angles over 40 feet tall. Anyone else have a job that made you totally flip on something you were sure was bogus?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.grace13d ago

Nah, ISA says cable bracing works for any size tree with a bad crotch angle, not just over 40 feet.

harper_owens12d ago

My buddy @scott.grace had a 20-foot maple snap sideways last spring from a bad crotch.