Bracing help please?

[Woodcrafter]

The problem I see here is that if the steel bracing has been supporting the limb tightly for 5 years that there's potentially a reasonable amount of growth weight over the time it's been installed. As it's already installed any damage has been done, so I'd just inspect the bolts and occlusion. I'd put in a support rope and undo the cable if it was really tight (likely) I'd let the support rope release gently and gauge what's happening at the attachment point and redo up the cable if it is still extremely taught when removing the support rope, I'd probably do a light reduction to remove some of the weight.

If it's been supporting it all this time the tree will have concentrated on optimising it's crown getting bigger and not necessarily putting any energy into adaptive regrowth and strengthening at the week attachment point. This is where in some cases a non invasive brace could have been more beneficial from the beginning.

I wouldn't do a straight swap.

[treeseer]

If it's been supporting it all this time the tree will have concentrated on optimising it's crown getting bigger and not necessarily putting any energy into adaptive regrowth and strengthening at the week attachment point. This is where in some cases a non invasive brace could have been more beneficial from the beginning.

 

I've heard this theory before but never saw it proven. OP reported an open crack at the union.

[Woodcrafter]

I've heard this theory before but never saw it proven. OP reported an open crack at the union.

 

 

Confused can't see where it says anything about an open crack. Which theory are you referring too?

[stevelucocq]

Thanks for everyone replies. Forgot to say there is some internal decay within the union and union is in a poor condition with reactive growth trying to stabilies a active opening crack. The bolt/washer is occulded slighly into the stem. It sounds like retaining a static system would be best in this scanrio as the static brace has been in place for 5 years and the tree has started to adapt to this system. So looking at to recommend to aerial inspect brace, assess brace tension and condition (adjust or replace for similar system if required) and reduce weight on right stem?

[Andymacp]

I would do everything but remove and replace.

Can you take pics of the Union?

[detritus21]

Bolting of the union may be an option to help stabilise a poor union. Combined with the cable brace this may be an option.

[stevelucocq]

I would do everything but remove and replace.

Can you take pics of the Union?

 

If i am back there soon will do