Building A Treehouse Without Damaging Your Tree: Five Tips To Consider
Posted on: 31 March 2015
Before building a treehouse, you may want to have a tree service professional come to your home and inspect the tree you are planning to use. These professionals can help you ensure the tree is safe for building, and they can also show you ways to protect the tree as you build.
Before you start building, here are five points to keep in mind:
1. Try to keep bark intact
Bark is more than just a decorative element of a tree. It actually protects the tree from rot and infection. If you want to ensure the tree stays healthy even after you build the tree house, try to disturb as little bark as possible. For example, instead of using lots of nails to hold elements in place, try to use one strong screw.
2. Use rope sparingly
Rather than using hardware to fasten elements to the tree, many people think that using rope is better. On one hand, this approach can be advantageous because it does not directly hurt the tree. However, it is not completely safe.
Over time, if the tree blows and shifts in the wind, it can rub against the rope creating friction and damage. Over time, the rope can essentially "strangle" the tree, further damaging the bark. The tree may even begin to grow around the rope integrating the rope into its structure.
3. Have a professional prune unwanted branches
In some cases, you may need to remove branches to make room for your tree house. Keep in mind that this, too, exposes the inside of the tree to potential infection or disease from the outside world.
Rather than cutting branches, try to create a design that fits into a spot where cutting is not necessary. If you have to remove branches, have a professional tree service prune the branches for you.
4. Exercise caution around dead branches
If some of the branches on your tree are dead, you do not necessarily need to cut them off to make the tree house safe. However, you need to be careful before you use them to support any of the treehouse's weight. Have a tree specialist examine their strength and density before you use these branches, and if necessary have them professionally removed.
5. Consider using external supports
If your tree is not strong enough or large enough to support a treehouse, you are not out of luck. Instead, build a treehouse around the tree and support it with large posts planted into the ground around the tree. Before planting the posts around the tree, however, ask a tree specialist to ensure you will not damage the tree's roots by putting the posts there.
For more information, contact a business such as Waratah Tree Services.
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