CABLING boring? or strapping ?
schrader@beaches.net
Sat, 12 Oct 1996 17:21:36 -0500
Hardly a day goes by with out seeing a large tree that doesn't possess a weekly formed limb union. Sharp crotches, double, triple and quadriple stems always make me suspicious about probable stem failures. Pruning is out of the question and cabling seems the only alternative to removal.
I don't understand why someone would go to the trouble to bore through a stem when cabling. It's alot easier to just put a wide strap (3" to 6") on and cable to it. Boring seems to only injure the stem at the very point where the cable is going to be exerting an additional stress. Shouldn't this practice be discontinued? More over why does the cable need to be tight? Can't a small amount of slack be left in to prevent the girdling effects of a tight strap.
Cabling is to me a preventive measure aimed at reducing hazards. A loose cable and strap can be effective at keeping a hazardous limb from damaging property if it does fail. The strap can iliminate any contact damage that may occure if the limb fails by suspending and limiting its area of contact.
Straping and cabling may not be aplicable in every instance but it does seem to be viable in most.