Many of the largest trees in Tioga County were planted generations ago in front of village homes and farmhouses. With age, some develop a weak seam where two trunks meet, or a long limb that stretches over a roof. Cabling and bracing add support so the tree can keep growing without that weak point giving way.
Support systems only make sense on trees that are otherwise healthy. That is why every cabling job starts with a $50 on-site consultation with Jason Tubbs, who brings 20+ years of experience in forestry and residential tree work. He will tell you honestly whether a tree in Candor or Owego is a good candidate, and your itemized plan will include the alternatives.
Trees that make good candidates
The best candidates are sound trees with one specific structural flaw. Think of a sugar maple with two equal trunks forming a tight V, or a red oak with a heavy limb reaching over a porch. When the wood is healthy and the roots are firm, support hardware can reduce the chance that this weak spot fails under snow or wind. Wet heavy snow, like the November 2024 storm that cut power across the region, is exactly the kind of load a weak union struggles with.
How the hardware works
- Cables are installed high in the crown between major stems, limiting how far they can spread apart in wind.
- Rods, called bracing, pass through a split or weak union lower down to hold it together.
- The system is usually paired with pruning to lighten the load the hardware has to carry.
- A supported tree still moves naturally. The goal is to limit extreme movement, not lock it rigid.
When taking the tree down is the wiser choice
Cabling cannot save a tree that is dying. Ash infested by emerald ash borer, which has been in Tioga County since at least 2013, should not be cabled. Neither should trees with major rot at the base or roots damaged by flooding. In those cases Jason will explain why removal, done in controlled sections, is safer for your home and family.
Checking in on a supported tree
Hardware is not something to install and forget. Trees grow, wood shifts, and storms test the system. We recommend periodic inspections, especially after a major wind event, so cables can be adjusted and the tree reassessed. Jason will suggest a checkup schedule as part of your plan, so you know when to have it looked at again.
Cable & Bracing Questions From Tioga County
Can a cable save the split maple in front of our house in Owego?
Maybe. It depends on how deep the split runs, whether there is decay inside, and how the tree is leaning. A fresh split in a healthy maple can often be braced and cabled. A split with rot, or one that runs to the ground, usually means removal is safer. Jason will look closely before recommending either.
How long does a cable system last?
It is not permanent. The tree keeps growing, and hardware needs to be inspected and sometimes adjusted or replaced over time. How long a system stays effective depends on the tree’s growth and the storms it goes through. Regular checkups are part of owning a supported tree.
Would cabling have kept a tree standing through something like the 2012 Barton tornado?
Probably not. The EF-1 tornado near Barton had 100 mph winds, and few trees survive a direct hit like that, cabled or not. Cabling helps with weak points under everyday wind and snow loads. It reduces risk. It does not make a tree stormproof, and we will never suggest otherwise.
Want the full picture? Read our cable & bracing guide, or see everything we do in Tioga County.