As living organisms, trees have methods of safeguarding themselves and recuperating from damage. As a property owner, it’s vital to know the mechanisms that a tree uses to defend itself. The impact of building a treehouse on a tree is a minimum, creating little to no real damage. This article discusses the effect treehouses could have on trees and the techniques used to diminish this impact.
Building a Treehouse: The Bark
The bark of a tree performs an essential function. Being that trees are alive, they are susceptible to diseases created by viruses and bacteria. This fact is such a more significant threat than some physical trauma. A tree could survive the loss of its branches, but an illness could destroy the whole tree.
Because trees don’t have an immune system, their only valid defense against bacteria and viruses comes from physically stopping the microorganisms from getting in. The bark is a physical barrier. Therefore, any place where there is a damaged bark. Exposed living tissue is similar to an open wound. Keeping bark damage to a tiny amount is safeguarding the health of a tree.
Avoid cutting limbs or sections out of a tree. Slices like this reveal a great deal of the tree’s interior, making the risk of disease significant. You should also use one big bolt instead of many smaller ones when feasible—the least number of holes in a tree, the better.
In most cases, don’t use a rope. A rope will damage a big surface area of bark as the tree slowly develops with the rope rubbing against it. A rope typically does more significant harm in the long run. Therefore, if you need a rope for your treehouse design, be sure you remove it annually to relieve the pressure, decreasing damage done to the bark.
An excellent suggestion that you hire a tree care professional for your treehouse. Improper use of a rope could lead to tree strangulation.
Compartmentalization
Again, trees don’t have immune systems. Trees don’t have a process of redeveloping tissue the way animals do. Instead, a tree’s answer to trauma is to wall off the bad part, letting it die in a procedure referred to as compartmentalization.
One of the most vital principles is to lessen the number of punctures into a tree. Don’t use nails to affix materials to the trunk. Instead, depend on a couple of big bolts for support.
Consistent Growth
Trees never stop growing. After a tree gets to maturity, the degree of its growth will reduce significantly. Nonetheless, tree growth won’t stop. You must be mindful of this when constructing a treehouse.
If supports are close to the tree, the tree will ultimately develop around these supports. The use of supports seldom causes damage to the tree, but it could result in a tree disfigurement. It will be apparent if the treehouse is gone where the tree had to develop around the last obstacle. Therefore, you should attempt to make the supports as moveable as possible, offering the tree room to flourish.
For more information on putting up a treehouse without harming your tree, call us at Lenoir Tree Service.
Recent Comments