Preserving a 42-Inch Deodar Cedar With Structural Pruning and Cabling

The mature 42-inch Deodar cedar before treatment. Its large, multi-leader canopy extends over the residence, neighboring property, sidewalk, and street.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This mature 42-inch Deodar cedar occupies a prominent position in the front yard and stands considerably larger than many surrounding trees on the block. The homeowner had concerns about the tree’s structure, particularly after a previous limb tear-out earlier in the year; portions of the canopy also extended over the homeowner’s house, a neighboring property, and the street. The goal was to manage these structural concerns while preserving an established tree that contributes significantly to the property’s character and canopy.

OUR APPROACH

During the initial ground assessment, Seattle Tree Care identified multiple-leader inclusions within the cedar’s structure: unions that can represent structural weak points as large leaders continue to increase in size and experience wind and canopy loading. Given the cedar’s size, prominent position, history of a previous limb failure, and proximity to homes and the public right-of-way, the arborist developed a combined approach using structural pruning and supplemental dynamic support rather than recommending removal.

Pruning focused on reducing mechanical loading while maintaining a sustainable canopy: arborists selectively reduced end weight, increased rigidity where appropriate, and reduced apical dominance, with reduction cuts made back to suitable lateral limbs rather than indiscriminately shortening branches. The team then installed three separate ANSI-approved dynamic cabling systems to help mitigate structural weakness associated with the multiple leaders, using 3/4-inch dynamic cable specified for attachment points on limbs up to approximately 24 inches in diameter, with a maximum breaking strength of 10,200 pounds. Unlike a rigid support system, dynamic cabling provides supplemental support while still allowing controlled movement within the canopy. The project required an SDOT public notice, and neighboring-property impacts were considered throughout, particularly where end-weight reduction involved branches extending beyond the client’s property.

The Deodar cedar following structural pruning and installation of three dynamic support systems, which provide supplemental support between the tree’s multiple leaders.

THE RESULT

Instead of removing a prominent mature cedar because structural weaknesses had developed, Seattle Tree Care implemented a management strategy to reduce loading and provide supplemental support to vulnerable portions of the canopy. Three dynamic cabling systems now provide additional support between the tree’s leaders, while structural pruning reduced end weight and addressed canopy extending over nearby targets. Because support systems require ongoing monitoring, Seattle Tree Care recommended future inspections and offered the homeowner a follow-up inspection within one year of installation.