The first step to creating a beautiful treehouse is to choose the right tree or trees to build on. You might want to take a walk around your yard and look for a good, sturdy tree. The ideal tree for a treehouse must not be too young and not too old. It must be healthy and strong.
To help you look for a good tree for your treehouse around your yard, take the following into consideration.
Which Type of Tree is Good For a Treehouse?
Safety is of big importance when it comes to building a treehouse for your family. You must pick a tree that is both healthy and strong enough to support a treehouse. Don’t just pick the first tree that comes into your sight when you go around your yard. You have to search better since there are a lot of trees that you can build on as long as the tree is healthy, mature, and strong.
Deciduous trees, however, are the best trees for tree houses because they have dense wood which can support heavier loads.
These trees include
- Ash
- Beech
- Cedar
- Douglas Fir
- Hemlock
- Maple
- Oak
Naturally, oaks and maples are considered to be the best trees. Maples and oaks are known for having sturdy branches and thick trunks, too, which are suitable for supporting a treehouse structure.
Tips for Choosing a Tree for Your Treehouse
How do you choose the right tree for your treehouse? As mentioned above, the health, strength, and maturity of the tree are the deciding factors for choosing the right treehouse.
Pick a Healthy Tree
The first thing to do when choosing a tree to build your treehouse on is to make sure that the tree is healthy.
- Trees that have signs of disease or decay are not ideal for a treehouse. They are most likely not able to withstand the heavy load of a treehouse and the stress of the construction process.
- Spotting an unhealthy tree is easy. Unhealthy trees usually have branches that has dying leaves or has not leaves at all. A diseased tree will also have an oozing sap or noticeable fungus on the trunk.
- The presence of insects around and inside the tree is also a good indication that the tree is unhealthy.
You want to pick a healthy, strong, and mature tree that can support the weight of a treehouse and can live longer so you can have your treehouse around for a long time.
Choose a Tree of the Right Height
A high treehouse allows you a more amazing view and you get to enjoy a greater sense of freedom. But a high treehouse can also be dangerous, especially for your children.
- When choosing a treehouse, you also have to factor in the height of the tree and think about the safety risks.
- If you are building a children’s treehouse, it’s best if you can choose a tree that is no more than 3 meters (10 feet) high to reduce the risk of danger from falling.
Look at the Thickness of the Branches
The thickness of the branches of the tree is also very important. The branches should be strong enough to support the additional weight of a treehouse.
- The ideal thickness of the branches that would bear the load of a treehouse should be at least eight inches in diameter. If you are building your treehouse on a softwood tree, it’s best if you go beyond eight inches.
- And if you are looking to build a treehouse with two or more stories, the branches that will support weight should be no less than 12 inches in diameter.
The Movement of the Tree
Keep in mind that trees tend to sway a lot, especially when there’s a storm, and when the trees sway so does your treehouse.
- You want to make sure that your treehouse will have proper design and construction so it can survive strong and high winds.
- If you are living in areas where winds pose a danger, it’s best if you build your treehouse on the lower third level of the tree and keep the size of the structure to a minimum.
Although you have vast options of tree species to choose from to build a treehouse on, it is still important to choose the ideal tree for your structure. When choosing a tree, you need to understand the characteristics of that tree and think about the risks that may arise from using that particular tree. Take note that trees grow and move, and it is important that your treehouse allows room for the tree to grow without jeopardizing the stability and quality of your structure. Companies such as Bellarine Trees can help you in choosing the tree for your particular needs.
About the author, Daniel Stone
Daniel has worked in the management, cutting, and caring for trees for the last 20 years. He works and helps run Bellarine Trees and is passionate about the environment and tree worker safety. He has a wife and two daughters and he enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.
