Building and playing in a treehouse is a common childhood activity many cherish. However, if you’re concerned about the health of your trees, you may be wondering: May the presence of the treehouse be causing damage to the tree, and is it possible to minimize this damage without sacrificing the fun?
Risks of Building a Treehouse
Treehouses are not inherently damaging to your tree if you take the necessary precautions. However, if you don’t play it safe, you may be exposing your tree to:
- Increased infection risk due to damaged bark and exposed tissue.
- Wounds and holes in the wood, which can attract pests and bacteria.
- Limited or halted growth.
- Trapped water, which can create a breeding ground for fungi.
- Added weight and stress can lead to the tree swaying, breaking, or toppling.
In general, the main concern regarding treehouses is that if not built with the tree’s safety in mind, they can create a lot of holes and exposed points, which harmful pests and bacteria can then exploit. The tree can also be under added pressure to hold the treehouse’s weight, which may be too much for the tree to bear.
Safe Treehouse Building Tips
Luckily, this doesn’t mean you have to scrap your treehouse-building project. It just means you should be careful about how you go about it by:
- Using non-damaging connectors, such as adjustable straps, can then be changed to allow for growth.
- Giving water a way to drain safely without harming the tree.
- Building closer to the ground, where the weight won’t add extra stress.
Contact Advanced Tree and Landscape
To ensure you’re taking proper care of your trees, sometimes you need a professional’s help. Advanced Tree and Landscape is here to offer you a hand in keeping your trees healthy and happy. Contact us today.
