ANSI A300 Part 3: Supplemental Support Systems

The ANSI A300 standards apply to pruning and trimming operations in arobriculture. These voluntary standards have been developed by the Tree Care Industry Association and written by committee with the goal of developing consensus performance standards bosed on research and sound practice. The standards are broken down into distinct topics.

ANSI A300 (Part 3) -2013 Supplemental Support Systems (includes Cabling, Bracing, Guying, and Propping)

• Tools and equipment
• Cabling objectives
• Types of cabling systems
• Bracing objectives
• Dead-end bracing
• Through-bracing
• Guying established trees
• Guying newly transplanted trees
• Tree-to-ground guying
• Tree-to-tree guying
• Propping trees and branches
• Hardware sizing and selection tables

A300 Part 3 Supplemental Support Systems standards provide four basic cabling methods:

• Direct: Direct cabling consists of a single cable between two tree parts, e.g., two limbs, two stems, or a trunk and a limb.
• Triangular: Triangular cabling consists of connecting tree parts in combination of threes. This method should be preferred, when maximum support is required.
• Box: Box cabling consists of connecting four or more tree parts in a closed series. This system should be used only when minimal direct support is needed.
• Hub and Spoke: Hub and Spoke cabling consists of a center attachment (hub) with spans (spokes) of cable radiating to three or more leaders. Hub and Spoke cabling should only be used when other installation techniques cannot be installed.