TREE CABLING

Ottawa Tree Cabling
Ottawa’s weather can be extreme and unpredictable, occasionally resulting in damage to the trees on your property. If your tree is damaged or weakened but does not need to be removed, cabling and bracing might be the best choice to help your trees recover. Tree bracing and cabling can protect your trees from further damage and also eliminate the risk of injury and damage to your property. In Ottawa, trees often need cabling after:
- High winds: Trees are often damaged by the force of strong winds, leading to broken branches and trunks
- Heavy snow: The heavy weight of snow on tree branches can stress trees to the point of breaking
- Ice build up: Like with snow, ice can build up on your trees branches leading to damage under its weight
Cabling is done by installing flexible steel cables and braces to reduce stress damage to your tree due to high winds, the weight of snow, or ice build ups on your trees. Expert arborists know exactly how to diagnose whether or not a tree needs to be cabled and how to install them. If you have a tree you think might need cabling, call Croft Tree Experts today for a free quote.
Why Get Tree Cabling in Ottawa
Trees are large and can cause significant damage to the area surrounding them. While it’s often easy to spot a dangerous tree, weak limbs aren’t as obvious. Expert arborists know how to find weak areas in your tree and are able to properly reinforce them. The experts at Croft Tree can assess whether your tree is weak and in need of cabling by pinpointing fragile sections of the tree, examining the bark, and identifying other indicators of weakness. Common reasons for cabling and bracing your trees include:
- Prevention: Cabling is done as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of breakage or failure in a healthy tree with potentially weak unions or crotches
- Preservation: If a tree is damaged or weak and you want to preserve it , cabling is a great solution
- Protection: Cables are used to prevent potential injuries and damages to your home – if the tree is in a high traffic area or is leaning over your home
Cabling is done in a very subtle and discrete manner, with the goal of protecting your trees but while also maintaining their aesthetic appeal. If your trees need cabling, contact the pros at Croft Tree Experts today!
Check out our blog: When To Consider Tree Cabling


Tree Cabling vs. Tree Bracing
The applications of tree cabling and tree bracing are fundamentally the same – both techniques provide structural support by restricting the movement of branches. However, there are some slight differences between both methods:
Cabling
- Commonly used for the upper crown or canopy of a tree
- Involves the installation of flexible steel cables between major branches
- Redistributes structural stress among the connected branches
Bracing
- Often is reserved for the lower regions (the trunk) of a tree
- Involves invasive steel rods as supplemental structural support
- Provides support by securing cracks or splits in a major tree branch junction
In most cases, both tree cabling and tree bracing are used in providing adequate support for a tree. Both of these techniques are highly technical and should be left to professional arborists. Our team is train to assess the structural integrity of a tree and to determine the best solution for your tree. Contact Croft Tree Experts for all of your tree cabling and tree bracing needs!
Testimonials
Testimonials
Ryan H. – From Ottawa
Great service, quick communication, crew showed up and explained everything and did a great job trimming mature tree while maintaining shape and health of tree. Made sure we were happy with the job before cleaning up all debris and leaving the site in great condition. A+ service.
Ron B. – From Ottawa
Great pre-work consultation and quote. Professional work on the day of, with “walk around review” with me after the work was completed. Happy to say the team did a great clean up as well, as there was a lot of material to remove. Very happy with the service and support.
Jodi S. – From Ottawa
After getting assessments done from a few companies, I ultimately chose to have Croft to do the work because of the professionalism from David during his initial assessment. Kristy at the office was always helpful and quick to respond to any inquiries that I had along the way. The crew worked fast and I appreciate that they tried to save our little mountain ash tangled in the maple!
Annette P. – From Ottawa
The experience with Croft was pleasant and efficient. The were quick to come and give me an estimate and keep me informed of the process all the way through. The crew that came to trim my trees were polite and got the job done quickly. They recognized that a tree is a living part of one’s home and any mistake cannot be easily rectified. Whenever there was a question, they asked me right away. That was really appreciated.
John S. – From Ottawa
We used Croft Tree Experts to remove one tree and trim 4 others on our property. They were very professional and did a great job. We will be having them back in the spring to plant a replacement tree. Excellent job!
Laura M. – From Ottawa
Prompt attention and diagnosis of my maple’s algae and fungus issues. Tree pruning and shaping has corrected the problem. The crew also did deep pruning of backyard spruce and basswood. They were focused, professional and thorough and did a great clean up of all debris. They asked about my satisfaction with the work, and made suggestions on how the trees should be cut for best esthetics. I have hired other Ottawa arborists in the past, but this company will now have my business, based on my total satisfaction.
Robert G. – From Ottawa
I would definitely recommend Croft Tree Experts to others looking to have trees removed. They were prompt on their initial response, getting the quote, being clear on what was going to be done and what was needed (e.g. moving cars from street and neighbouring lots); as well as confirming that a removal would be required. The work was done well (from what I can tell), staff were friendly and professional.
Don W. – From Ottawa
We’re very happy with the quality of work and professionalism provided by Croft Tree Experts. The large, old silver maple they removed from our yard was a challenging task. But from their estimator to the work crew itself, they arrived when they said they would, acted with great professionalism, removed the tree quickly and safely, and fully fulfilled all their contractual obligations. They also did a great job cleaning up our property when the task was done. If we need any more tree work on our property, we’d happily employ Croft once again.
Mark B. – From Ottawa
I highly recommend Croft Tree Experts. They responded quickly to my request for an estimate, with a price that was quite reasonable. They kept me informed of when they planned to show up to do the work, and kept to their timings. Their work crew was polite, and efficient. Once the job was complete they cleaned up all the waste. I don’t think you can ask for more.
Gareth W. – From Ottawa
Arrived at scheduled time, very knowledgeable guys. This is the second time I have used Croft Tree Experts and I have been delighted both times. They did a great job on my ugly maple which had been massacred a few years back by another arborist company. Quick and tidy. Back yard was left as they found it without any stray branches. These guys definitely have our loyalty. Definitely recommend them.
Violet F. – From Ottawa
I have used Croft Tree Experts for several years now. They are indeed “experts”. They are very knowledgeable and provided good advice. They come when they say they will and do a very efficient job. They also clean all the clippings and branches . I certainly would recommend them.
Jerry G. – From Ottawa
This is the second time in 4 years that I have used this company to trim my Manitoba Maple tree. I am completely satisfied with their service. The most impressive part was their level of clean up after this trimming. I would highly recommend this company to anyone seeking quality work done by professionals.
David R. – From Ottawa
It had been several years since my beautiful large but severely overgrown ornamental crabapple tree had had any attention. On recommendation from a neighbour who had just had an excellent experience with Croft Tree Experts I approached them for a quote. I feared the worst having dealt with tree companies before but the quote came in at a very reasonable cost. I had called the company and Dave came to see the object in question and when he queried me about what I wanted he understood precisely what I had in mind. These are strange times so between quote and work a few weeks elapsed. But then I got a message saying they were available at such and such a time to do the work. I agreed to the time (as any company must do they gave a range of time) and sure enough the crew arrived pretty much right on the minute. Work was done, all extremely professional. Everything was done in a timely manner and the ground was pretty much spotless when they were finished. I absolutely love the results as do my neighbours. Billing was efficient and it came in right on quote. Couldn’t be happier with the service. Thanks Croft!
John R. – From Ottawa
We needed four stumps ground. From the time of first contact until the service truck pulled away, the experience has been completely positive. The estimate was quick and the price was right. The service staff were careful, polite and professional. The job and the cleanup were very well done. I recommend their services.
Kate P. – From Ottawa
We were very pleased with the quality of work and professionalism of the guys. They were friendly and understood what we wanted done with the trees. We would have no hesitation in recommending Croft Tree Experts for any tree trimming and removal.
Veronica I. – From Ottawa
I had a crab apple tree that needed some serious TLC as previous owners didn’t maintain it at all. I selected Croft for not only having an informative website but for their professionalism. They arrived on time, did their work and cleaned up right after. Our tree looks so much better now. I should also point out that Croft took care in keeping their distance due to COVID-19 crisis which I greatly appreciated. I would choose them again.
Linda M. – From Ottawa
Prompt service, courteous and knowledgeable staff, efficient pruning of trees, great cleanup and reasonable prices all led to a highly rewarding experience with Croft Tree Experts.
Dale B. – From Ottawa
We are very happy with the service we recently had from the Croft Tree Experts. We had a large locust tree to be pruned and an old lilac tree stump to be removed/ground up. Kristy in the office was very helpful in booking out appointments and the gentlemen who came to do the work were efficient, knowledgeable, friendly and did a great job from start to finish. We will definitely use them again and recommend them to address any tree issues you may have.
Brian B. – From Ottawa
Very competitive pricing. The crew showed up during the scheduled time and were courteous and professional. They did an excellent job trimming an out of control hedge and removed all debris to our complete satisifaction. Would highly recommend their services.
Tina D. – From Ottawa
I called 4 tree trimming services in Ottawa and picked Croft Tree Experts. They were very pleasant to deal with, reliable and got the job done fast and with quality. This particular job involved a high tree that was interfering with our eaves. They cleaned up after cutting several large branches without killing the tree. As a bonus, they were the most reasonably priced. Highly recommend.
Andrea G. – From Ottawa
Rahul V. – From Ottawa
Very punctual, professional, helpful, and friendly service. They removed a small dead bush in my front yard promptly. They also provided advice on when to replace it which was helpful as I would have done the wrong thing (replacing it in short order as opposed to waiting until next spring). They also advised on what other options I had to remove the dead bush and ultimately did what was best for me. Great service. Hope to employ them again should the need arise. I highly recommend them.
Rob G. – From Ottawa
Simply excellent service! Kyle arrived promptly as promised and gave a thorough overview of what should be done to eliminate risk to neighbors’ property from my trees. Other work included significant cleanup of a neglected locust tree and some large maples. The team worked the better part of a full day which included all the necessary cleanup of debris afterward. Could not be more pleased with the results. The locust, which I despised the look of previously, now looks wonderful. Thanks to all of you!
Steve H. – From Ottawa
My wife and I had Croft Tree Experts tree specialist Kyle come to our home to appraise and give us a quote on an overgrown Maple and a Spruce that needed trimming. Kyle was very thorough in his explanation of how he could take care of our issues. He didn’t try to oversell me and actually suggested I not spend money on a very tall Cedar that I thought I should bundle at the top. He could have easily made more money from us but he was kind enough to suggest that we shouldn’t bother unless we were adamant about doing so. The final quote was more than reasonable for us. When Dave and Jeremy came to do the work a couple of weeks later (they are quite booked up with projects) they worked efficiently and did a superb job on trimming back our trees. They were very courteous, friendly and also asked us if there was anything in particular that we wanted them to address before they started the work. Our property was left spotlessly clean. Trees look amazing !! I can’t say how pleased we are with the work they did for us and I highly recommend Croft Tree Experts to anyone looking for professional level workmanship at a fair price.
Stewart K. – From Ottawa
Fantastic job and at even better price. The yard was clean, the hedges look great! Thanks guys! No need to shop around, you’ve found the RIGHT people!
Dan M. – From Ottawa
The team from Croft were courteous and professional. Both Kyle, who came to do the estimate, and the crew who took down the tree answered all my questions. They removed a large maple that was very close to mine and the neighbors house safely and expertly. Would not hesitate to recommend them.
Mattie M. – From Ottawa
We wish to thank the two crews that came out to cut numerous trees on our property, as well as trim our large maple and take away a few stumps. They did a wonderful job, worked very hard, were very accommodating, tidied up before leaving, and were very pleasant.
Kevin T. – From Ottawa
Excellent job pruning two large trees. The guys were friendly and thorough in cleaning up after the job was done. I have recommended them to neighbours, friends and family. Great job guys!
Tama D. – From Ottawa
We are very happy with Croft Tree Experts. Kyle was a pleasure to deal with and took great care pruning our giant Manitoba maple and cedar hedges. The price was extremely reasonable compared to other quotes we received, and they left our yard and neighbors’ yards pristine once the work was complete. I would definitely recommend their services to others seeking a qualified arborist.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is tree cabling?
Tree cabling involved a cable that is installed directly into a limb of a tree, connecting it to another limb in order to provide structural support. The cable should be placed to reduce movement but not restrict it. Cabling should not be used on dying or unhealthy trees to save them.
Does cabling hurt a tree?
Tree cabling is meant to add extra support to a tree and help it grow stronger. That being said, if tree cabling is done improperly, it can actually further injure a tree and increase the risk of it dying. That is why it is important to have a certified arborist who is trained in the best tree cabling practices take care of it for you.
How can I tell if a tree needs cabling?
It can be hard to tell if a tree needs cabling if you don’t know what to look for. It is important to have a certified arborist inspect the tree to see if it could benefit from cabling. If you have a tree that is very old and looking damaged, contact us to take a look and see if cabling is the right solution.
What is tree bracing?
Tree bracing involves the installation of braces on the tree in order to reduce stress damage from harsh weather and winds. Tree bracing is usually done on lower parts of the tree like the trunk, whereas cabling is meant for higher up tree limbs. A professional arborist is able to identify the proper location for a tree brace and whether or not your tree needs the additional support.
Can tree cabling fix a dying tree?
Tree cabling is meant to fixed damaged trees and trees with weak points that are likely to break in extreme weather. These trees are usually still relatively healthy. If a tree is dying, and has lost more than half of its canopy, then the tree is already too far gone and should be removed.
How long do cables need to stay on a tree?
Cables can physically last for up to 50 years, however a tree will outgrow a cabling system in around 10 years. If cabling is still needed, the system will need to be replaced. To determine how long a cabling system needs to be used on a tree, a certified arborist will need to inspect the tree on a yearly basis. Only they can determine whether a tree still needs cables or if they can be removed.
What types of tree cabling are there?
There are two types of tree cabling: static and dynamic.
Static cabling systems are comprised of steel cables and hardware fixed into the tree itself. This type of system offers rigid support for a tree and is better used on trees which are at much higher risk of limbs breaking.
Dynamic cabling systems use composite ropes which are wrapped around tree limbs. It is a non-invasive system since nothing has to be installed directly into the tree. This type of cabling system provides added support to the tree and also allows it to move naturally in the wind.
Additional Ottawa Tree Care Services

SUPPORT SYSTEMS (CABLING & BRACING)

COMMERCIAL SERVICES

ARBORIST REPORTS AND CONSULTING

STORM DAMAGE CLEAN UP

REGULAR MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
