Used to spike every codominant union on red oaks, now I subordinate cut and the woundwood tells the story

Logan Nelson · 2026-10-06T17:30:03.612963+00:00

For my first 6 years climbing I was taught to drill a spike hole and bolt every tight codominant union on red oaks, figured more steel meant more safe. After a job in Madison last spring where a 22 inch oak with 4 bolts failed anyway at the union, I switched to reduction cuts on the competing leader and letting the tree build its own wood. Two seasons in, the callus wood is closing over clean and I am not punching holes in live tissue for no reason. Anyone else make this switch, and do you still bolt anything under 30 inches DBH?

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Used to spike every codominant union on red oaks, now I subordinate cut and the woundwood tells the story | Arborists - Free To Speak