Should I Brace My Trees For Winter?

Tree cabling and bracing is an important preventative maintenance practice used in the landscaping and tree care industry. Many property owners are confused on whether or not they need to brace their trees for the harsh winter weather ahead. Although cabling and bracing offers a wide range of important benefits, it is not necessary for all trees.

Continue reading to learn more about tree cabling and bracing, including when you should implement the service for your landscaping trees.

Indianapolis Tree Service 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Cabling and Bracing 317-783-2518

Tree Cabling and Bracing

The practice of tree cabling and bracing is done for the purpose of reinforcing or redirecting trees. Not only does it prevent unsteady or dead trees from falling over, it can help promote tree growth in certain directions, like out of the way of power lines. During the process, cabling and bracing hardware are installed directly on and around the tree, and then anchored to the ground. This practice still allows the tree to move naturally with the wind, but only to a limit that cannot cause any structural failures. Tree trunks, whole trees, or sections of large limbs can be cabled and braced for preventative maintenance.

Making a Decision to Cable and Brace Trees

Whether or not a tree requires cabling and bracing depends on its condition, health, location, and surrounding environment. Most trees do not require cabling and bracing. It is generally a service reserved for trees that pose hazardous structural failures, such as toppling over or large limbs falling off. Trees that are good candidates for cabling and bracing are those in areas where people and structures exist, such as neighborhoods, communities, commercial buildings, parks, and more. Trees in these areas that exhibit signs of potential instability might benefit from cabling and bracing. In all cases, young and newly-planted trees should be cabled and braced, all year long.

Signs of a Dangerous Tree

Dead trees are usually easy to spot, and commonly cabled and braced since they exponentially lose their strength and root stability. See our blog, “Top 4 Signs That Indicate a Tree is Dead” to learn how to decipher a dead tree from a live one. Accordingly, dying or diseased trees pose the same threat. These trees are often cabled to prevent them from decaying and falling. See our blog, “Common Questions and Answers About Tree Diseases” to learn more. In other cases, trees that are in areas with very bad soil conditions or poor water drainage can be very unstable, and potentially fall over in rough winds or storms. For this reason, they are also good candidates for cabling and bracing.

Get a Tree Inspection to Be Sure This Winter

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for comprehensive tree inspection services in Indianapolis, Indiana and surrounding locations. We serve all of Central Indiana with a wide range of skilled tree removal and tree care services, for both residential and commercial properties. Whether you need a single tree removed, or simply require routine tree service, like trimming or pruning, we can deliver prompt and professional service at a fair price. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

How to Hire a Reputable Tree Service Company

As a property owner, there are a few things you need to know before outsourcing professional tree service. Whether you need routine tree care such as trimming or pruning, or major tree work like large tree removal or lot clearing, you need a company that can be trusted to deliver safety, quality, and efficiency on every job. And to find the right tree care company, you need to know what to look for.

Continue reading to learn how to hire a dependable tree service company who can manage the size and scope of your tree service needs.

Indianapolis Tree Service
Indianapolis Tree Service 317-783-2518

Real Experience

When it comes time to research tree care companies, it is important to look for signs of professionalism and skill. The very first thing you want to look for in a tree service company is experience. In an industry like this, hands-on experience is the key to perfecting the tree care craft. At least ten years of experience is a good start, and any more than that is an added assurance. This is especially important for larger or more complex tree service jobs, like stump removal and storm damage clearance.

Valued Credentials

Aside from experience, there are a few other credentials to look for in a tree service company. Licensing and insurance is key when it comes to any service-oriented company. So be sure your choice of service is licensed and insured. Not only does this protect you, it ensures that your property is in the hands of certified professionals.

Fair Prices

Request estimates from your potential tree service candidates to compare pricing and overall costs. Not only will this help you gain an understanding of the average cost of tree service, it will allow you to compare competitors’ prices and choose which ones seems the most fair and the least suspicious. Keep in mind that if the estimate is drastically lower than the average cost of the other estimates you’ve received, it could be an indication of unethical work. So take oddly-low estimates as a warning rather than a miracle.

Quality Labor and Equipment

Make sure your tree service company retains the proper equipment to provide safe and efficient tree work. But also be sure they are fully-staffed to manage the size and scope of your tree service needs. A fully-equipped and staffed tree service company is a sign that they are a reputable team to hire.

Indianapolis Tree Service at an Affordable Price

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for Indianapolis tree services you can trust. We are highly trained and experienced tree care technicians that offer commercial and residential tree services at affordable prices. As professional tree specialists, we know precisely how to manage each and every tree service job requested of us. We only use quality equipment to carry out our tree care services and never neglect safety. And if you have a tree emergency after regular business hours, we offer two separate after-hours phone lines!

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518