Bracing

Service Description

Trees which are allowed to reach maturity with certain structural defects, sometimes need to be braced at the location of the defect. Co-dominant stems, multiple leaders emerging from a single trunk, often create an area known as included bark. The two stems eventually begin growing into each other and exert a constant force upon each other. This force is compounded each year as the stems increase in diameter , until eventually, the union fails and one of the leaders splits/breaks off. Bracing redirects that force to a metal rod that is placed between the two stems. By recognizing a tree that needs to be braced, the owner of that tree gains some level of control in the future of that tree and mitigates the risk of that tree. Instead of removing the tree all together, bracing allows the owner to address the structural concern of the tree, greatly reducing the likelihood of failure, and the community is able to continue to enjoy the beauty of the tree. If the union still fails, after the stem has been braced, the brace may hold the stem in or close to its current position, until it can be safely removed.