Tree Health, Cabling and Bracing in Denville, NJ

Plenty of Denville homeowners would rather keep a big tree than lose it. The oaks and maples around the lakes help define those neighborhoods, and a mature tree on a hillside lot holds soil and shades the house. When a large tree has two main stems splitting in a tight V, steel cables installed high in the crown can limit how far the stems move in wind. Bracing rods through the wood can help with lower splits. Both can add years to a tree that is otherwise healthy. Cabling works best when it is paired with light pruning that reduces weight on the weaker stem.

A health assessment is a good starting point. The arborist checks the crown, trunk, root flare and soil for decay, cankers, insects and dieback. In Denville, two local issues often come up. Ash trees are under heavy pressure from the emerald ash borer, and some can be protected with treatment if most of the canopy is still alive. Trees near the river or in low, wet yards may show root stress after flooding, which can show up as thinning or dieback a season or two later. Catching that decline early gives you more options than waiting for dead branches to start falling.

Spotted lanternfly has spread across New Jersey and is common in Morris County, and while it is mostly a nuisance on many shade trees, heavy feeding stresses trees that are already weak. Cables and braces need inspection every few years and adjustment as the tree grows. Ask the contractor what hardware they use and when to schedule a follow up. If the assessment shows serious decay, removal is usually the safer choice, especially over a house or a busy lake road. A written note of what hardware was installed also helps the next owner if you sell the house.

Signs you need tree health, cabling and bracing

• A V shaped union between two big stems on an oak or maple near the house
• An ash with a thinning crown, woodpecker damage or split bark
• A tree that looks thinner in the seasons after the yard flooded
• A heavy limb reaching far over the roof or a lake road
• Mushrooms or conks at the base, or soft wood in the trunk

Questions about tree health, cabling and bracing

Worth knowing in Denville

1. The March 6-7, 2018 snowstorm brought down trees, limbs and wires and caused numerous power outages; Denville spent $37,467 on snow removal for it.

   morriscountynj.gov

2. An August 3, 2018 severe thunderstorm with a funnel cloud left the township with downed trees and power loss.

   morriscountynj.gov

3. The county hazard mitigation plan estimates Denville's severe weather losses at about $56,000 a year on average and $1.2 million for a 100 year event.

   morriscountynj.gov

Typical costs in Denville