Saw a huge oak in a Denver park with a weird cable system

I was in Washington Park last weekend and noticed a massive bur oak with a big crack in a main limb. The city arborists had put in a cable system, but it looked old and the hardware was starting to sink into the bark. I've always been taught that dynamic systems are better now, letting trees move a bit. But maybe for a tree that big in a busy park, a static cable is the only safe choice? What's your take on when to use old-school static bracing versus the newer flexible stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

samward2mo ago

Static cables are for high risk spots over targets like paths. Newer dynamic systems are way better for letting the tree build its own strength.

lane.emma1mo ago

Totally agree, and that flexibility helps the tree handle wind loads naturally over time.

joseph52928d ago

Wouldn't you check that old hardware, like @lane.emma said about letting it move?