Cabling and bracing add steel hardware that holds a weak fork or split together in a tree that is otherwise healthy. It suits the big Randolph oaks and maples that grew with competing stems in the old forest, after an assessment confirms the wood is sound. Cabling and bracing typically cost $300 to $1,500.
Many Randolph homeowners have a large oak or maple that is the reason they bought the house. Those trees are often decades older than the home, and a lot of them grew with two or more main stems competing for light in the old forest. Where those stems meet, a tight V shaped union can trap bark and crack under load. Cables installed high in the crown limit how far the stems can spread in wind, and threaded rods can brace a split lower down. Done well, this lets a tree that is otherwise healthy keep shading the house for years instead of coming down at the first sign of a crack.
A health assessment is a sensible first step, especially for trees on rocky ridges or wet valley lots where root conditions are tougher. The arborist checks the crown for dieback, the trunk for cavities and cracks, and the base for fungus and root problems. They will also flag ash showing emerald ash borer damage. Ash that still has most of its canopy can sometimes be protected with treatment, while badly declined ash is usually safer to remove. Root damage from construction, such as a driveway or addition built over roots years ago, can also show up slowly as decline in the crown.
Cabling only works if someone checks it. Hardware should be inspected every few years and adjusted as the tree grows. Ask what system the contractor uses, where it will go, and when they want to come back. If the assessment finds serious decay or a split that is too far gone, removal may be the better choice, and a good arborist will say so. Keep a record of any hardware installed in case you sell the house. Buyers and their inspectors in a wooded town like Randolph often ask about the big trees near the home.
Signs you need tree health, cabling and bracing
- Two large stems forming a tight V over the roof or driveway
- A crack running down from a fork in a big oak or maple
- Thinning crown or bark splitting on an ash in the yard
- Mushrooms or soft wood at the base of a tree on a wet lot
- A long, heavy limb stretching from the woods over the house
Questions about tree health, cabling and bracing
Is my old Randolph oak worth cabling?
If the tree is otherwise healthy and the weak point is a fork or an overextended limb, cabling can make sense. An arborist's assessment will tell you whether the tree is a good candidate or whether decay makes removal safer.
Can my ash tree still be saved?
Maybe. Ash that still has most of its canopy can often be treated to protect it from emerald ash borer. Trees that have lost much of their crown are usually better removed before they become brittle.
Does rocky soil affect a tree's stability?
It can. Where bedrock is shallow, as in parts of Randolph, roots tend to spread wide rather than deep. An arborist can look at the root zone and factor that into their recommendation.
Worth knowing in Randolph
Removing trees in Randolph runs through a Tree Protection Permit filed with the township Planning Division; residential lots need a sketch or marked survey, and cutting may begin within 48 hours after the Planning Division is notified and the permit is approved.
randolphnj.orgTropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 knocked out power to about 9,400 Randolph households, roughly 88% of the township, with some outages lasting six days.
patch.comRandolph's Liberty Tree, dating to 1720, was removed on August 31, 2018.
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