Tree Cables for the Landscape - When trees become mature and large, there may be times when major branches will begin to crack or split. This may be due to poor crotch angles between the branch and main trunk or because of stresses from high winds. Certain species of trees are more prone to this type of damage than others. One way to address a split branch is to use large metal screws or cables to hold the tree together. Even this does not always work and must be done by a professional arborist to be work correctly.