4 Cabling and Bracing Benefits for Mature Trees
Protect your mature trees from storms and heavy branches! Learn how cabling and bracing can keep your trees healthy and standing tall in Wichita, KS, with Arbor Masters.
Do you have a mature or historic tree that’s seen decades—maybe even centuries—of life? These trees tell a story, but without the right care, their future might be cut short. That’s where cabling and bracing mature trees comes in. This technique can help keep these magnificent trees, protecting their legacy and the beauty they bring to our Wichita community for years to come.
Key Takeaways
- Cabling and bracing can redistribute the weight of heavy branches, providing balance and stability to mature trees.
- Structural supports can strengthen weak sections and prevent further damage or splitting in historic trees.
- By reinforcing weaker areas, cabling and bracing protect mature trees from storm damage, reducing the risk of broken branches.
- Mature trees in Wichita enhance property value, improve air quality, and lower energy costs, making preserving them important.
Cabling and bracing can protect mature trees on your property.
4 Ways Cabling and Bracing Can Preserve Historic Trees
While Wichita and the rest of Kansas may not boast the expansive ancient forests found in other parts of the U.S., we’re still home to many historic and mature trees that add beauty and character to our landscape. Like us as we age, these trees need extra care and attention to stay healthy and strong.
One of the simplest ways to help preserve your historic Wichita trees is by using preemptive cabling and bracing. These structural support systems will help keep the tree healthy and upright and provide four major benefits for mature trees.
PRO TIP: Did you know the oldest known tree in Kansas is in Fort Leavenworth? The tree is at least 200 years old and was even described by Lewis and Clark in 1804 during their exploration of the country.
1. Redistribute Weight from Heavy Branches
As trees grow, their branches will become heavier. The tree can become unbalanced if too much growth happens on one side. Pruning can help control this growth, but sometimes trees need a little extra help with cabling and bracing.
Cabling redistributes the weight of branches more proportionately by attaching them to the trunk. This adds stability to your mature tree and helps strengthen those overly long sections.
2. Support Weak Sections of a Mature Tree
As you grow old, you notice some parts of your body don’t work as well as they used to. Maybe you’ve got pain in your knees or your back. The same principle applies to trees. As they age, they develop weak sections or cracks that become problematic and prone to breaking.
Installing braces, in conjunction with cables, can help support these weak parts of a tree and protect them from further damage or weakening.
3. Strengthen a Tree Against Storm Damage
Weather is the great equalizer when it comes to trees. One strong gust or lucky lightning strike can kill or severely damage a tree, whether it is 100 years old or just planted a year ago. In Wichita, we face risks of storm damage throughout the year.
While cabling can’t make a tree 100 percent secure, it will add an extra layer of protection to reduce the risk of branches breaking in a storm. Cabling typically attaches weaker branches to stronger ones to create a more balanced and robust tree.
4. Prevent Splitting in Mature Wichita Trees
A tree splitting can be a worrying thing, as the problem is prone to worsening over time without any assistance. This problem is more common in trees with a split trunk, as they have less structural integrity than trees with a single trunk.
Cabling and bracing can help hold the tree together and prevent the splitting from worsening.
The Importance of Mature Trees in Wichita
Wichita’s drier climate, frequent wildfires, and prairie ecosystem have shaped our environment, preventing the development of the dense, ancient forests seen elsewhere. However, the mature trees we do have are a cherished part of our community and deserve special care to thrive.
Some of the benefits of mature trees for your yard in Wichita include:
- Higher Property Value: Trees don’t just improve the aesthetics of your yard; they also increase your property value. You’ll see a better valuation on your property with healthy, mature trees.
- Lower Energy Costs: Strategically planted trees decrease your cooling costs in the summer. Trees will block sunlight from directly hitting your house and give your air conditioner a break on sunny days.
- Better Air Quality: Trees act as natural air filters. You can enjoy cleaner air in the community with large, historic trees.
- Lower Stress: While you may not be able to easily take a trip to a forest in Kansas, having trees in your yard can help lower stress and improve your mood.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabling and Bracing Mature Trees
Can cabling and bracing save my mature trees?
In many cases, cabling and bracing can save your mature trees and allow you to enjoy their benefits for years. Structural support systems can help preserve these trees by strengthening and stabilizing their weaknesses. However, in some instances, there is nothing to do for a tree except remove it. An ISA Certified Arborist can help determine the health of your trees and provide an expert recommendation on how to care for them.
What causes trees to split?
Trees may split for several reasons, including:
- Lightning strikes
- High winds
- Internal decay
- Frost cracks from fluctuating temperatures
Do cables and braces last forever in my tree?
No, cables and braces do not last forever. Companies make tree cables and braces out of durable material, but they will weaken over time. We recommend annual inspections of any installed cables and braces to see if they have begun to weaken over time or are ineffective.
Arbor Masters Can Help You Preserve Your Mature Wichita Trees
We owe it to our ecosystem and community to preserve every mature tree we can in the Wichita area. With cabling and bracing, we can preserve mature trees with weak sections, overly long branches, or splitting.
Arbor Masters can inspect your mature trees, determine if they could benefit from structural support, and then install them while following all industry standards from the International Society of Arboriculture. Call us today at 316-838-3111 or request a quote online for help with your historic trees.
