Part II — Securing the Atlas Cedar: Installing a Static Cable
Strengthening a Mature Cedar: Preventing Failure Through Proactive Support
After we completed the pruning on this beautiful old blue atlas cedar a few weeks ago (see Part I of this blog), one issue kept coming back to mind. While moving through the canopy, we noticed a large codominant stem leaning toward the neighbor’s house. There were no visible cracks at the union, but the junction told another story: The two stems were growing so close to each other that the bark between them had never fused properly.
That’s what we call included bark—a structural weakness that forms when two stems press against each other as they expand in diameter. Instead of strong connective wood forming between them, the union fills with bark and weak, compressed tissue. Over time, as the limbs continue to thicken, the pressure increases—and so does the risk.
This is exactly the kind of defect that should have been corrected decades ago with a simple structural pruning cut when the tree was young and flexible. A small correction early on would have set the cedar on a completely different trajectory, with a single strong leader instead of two competing stems.
Most of the problems we see in mature trees are the long-term results of poor selection, poor placement, or lack of early structural pruning (see our Tree Selection and Planting service). These early decisions define everything that comes later.
But as arborists, we don’t get to work with perfect trees. We work with the trees that are standing today—with all their history, all their mistakes, all their scars—and we find solutions.
In this case, removing the codominant stem was not an option. At this stage of the tree’s life, the diameter was far too large. Removing it would create a massive wound, destabilize the tree, and essentially condemn it. The damage would be worse than the defect.
So we turned to the next best option: installing a static (steel) support cable high above the junction to secure the two stems together.
Unlike dynamic systems—which allow the tree to sway naturally—a static cable (see our Cabling & Bracing service) is designed to stop movement. It acts like a seat belt: If strong winds hit the canopy and try to pull the stems apart, the cable holds them in place and prevents sudden stress or cracking at the weak union.
This is a preventive measure, not a reaction to failure. The union isn’t split yet—and our goal is to keep it that way.
By installing the cable now, we can:
- Stabilize the codominant stems
- Reduce the risk of a sudden catastrophic break
- Protect the neighbor’s house
- Extend the lifespan of the tree
Before we even got to installation day, I also brought in my arborist friend Matt Prady, originally from the UK, with more than 20 years of experience. After our crew finished pruning the tree, I asked Matt to meet me on-site so we could look at this junction together. I always value a second set of experienced eyes on complex structural defects. We walked around the tree, studied the codominant union, and within a few minutes, we both came to the exact same conclusion: A static steel cable was the safest and most responsible choice, especially with storm season approaching.
That morning, we met at Arborist Now’s yard at 6:30 AM, gathered all the equipment—the big drill, long steel cable, wedge end grips—and headed to the site. Once everything was set up, the installation went smoothly. Matt is incredibly skilled and easy to work with; when you work with someone who really knows their craft, it shows. In just about an hour, the cable was in place.
Our client arrived while we were wrapping up, and we walked them through everything we had done. They were relieved, grateful, and happy to see a clear plan to protect both the tree and the property.
Every time I walk past this cedar, I’m reminded of how much these old trees depend on us—not just for pruning but for understanding their structure, reading their weaknesses, and helping them live another decade or two safely.
Part II of this story closes the loop: from pruning for health to securing the structure for the future.
We will return to this cedar in about two years for its next checkup (see our Tree Pruning service). Mature trees like this should only receive minimal, thoughtful pruning, and spacing maintenance at a two-year interval helps us:
- Avoid overpruning older specimens
- Monitor the union and the cable installation
- Keep an eye on any changes in structure
- Maintain the tree’s health while preserving its natural form
Two years is the perfect rhythm for this tree—enough time for it to respond to our work, but not so long that small issues become bigger ones.