How to Get a Real Treehouse

The popularity of television programs featuring castaways surviving in exotic island locations evoke memories of the Swiss Family Robinson and their remarkable tree house residence, which has helped to rekindle an interest in the tree house as a functional structure for use either by children or adults. Tree houses, which may have inspired the tale of the Swiss Family, include “tree house” restaurants that existed in the mid 1800’s in a town renowned for them west of Paris. In the early 21st Century, this tree house legacy continues in Costa Rica, where it is possible to rent tree houses which form the rooms of a hotel in the midst of a wildlife refuge. Southern Oregon is another location which offers rentals of various styles of tree houses.

Tree houses have been used as blinds for watching wildlife, religious retreats, dormitories, weekend getaways or hideaways, offices, complexes for children from simple to sprawling, and as year-round residences. They have been attached to trees at ground level, wrapped around them like outposts far above the ground and built in the midst of a tree group.

The number of possibilities for which a tree house might be used is limited only by the builder’s imagination and by the builder’s choice of basic building material, in this case, a tree or trees. Certain trees are considered to be the best ones in which to construct a tree house, but the native location of a particular tree may also affect may also affect the builder’s choice. For those building in South America, the Monkey Pod is the perfect choice for large tree houses. The Hickory and the Ash are good mid-range choices for North America. The Baobob is native to Africa.

There are many trees considered to be the best. Among these are the fruit trees, the Apple and the Mango, traditionally associated with childrens’ tree houses, and the Maples and the Oaks, the Sugar Maple and the White Oak winning praise as the best variety of these two types of trees. Conifers, such as the Fir and the Spruce, are also on the list to use, even though it is often necessary to use more than one tree to insure proper support. Pine trees can also be used, but it should be noted, in case circumstances occur which precipitate usage, that Pine trees are salt intolerant.

For those with a limited knowledge of the ailments and pests various trees may be susceptible to, it is best to locate a qualified arborist before proceeding with any tree house project. An arborist can check for signs of disease, such as dry and crumbly leaves and needles in the summer, and trees which have lost their top leaves. Knowledge of tree diseases and destructive pests common to a local area are the specialties of a qualified arborist. Information on arborists is available online through the International Society of Arboriculture.

To find a healthy tree, have the arborist check the tree’s foundation, its root system, to ensure that it is properly grounded. According to Peter Nelson and Gerry Hadden in Home Tree Home, a healthy root, when scuffed, should be a bright pink to red, or green.

They also suggest not climbing a tree which has roots that are more than half diseased or decayed.

Nelson and Hadden also have suggestions for maintaining a tree’s health. If the area around the tree and roots is cleared of debris and vegetation in a circle as large as the growth of the tree above it, and mulched compost or wood chips is spread around the tree, as long as the tree is fertilized, it should remain fairly healthy. Once again, consult an expert, an arborist.

If it is necessary to tie tree trunks together from one tree with multiple trunks or a group of trees with separate trunks, to support the structure and reinforce the trunk, use an arborist for the cabling. It is a wise precaution to avoid any strain which a tree house might create.

Keep in mind that a tree house will add a lot of weight to the tree or trees used. Careful pruning of dead wood and branches will eliminate unnecessary weight for the tree and add to its health. Most pruning should be done prior to building a tree house and should not be overdone. Use an arborist. Together use the pruning to decide on the view from the tree house and the direction it should face.

Choose the type and style of the tree house. There are many “blueprints” available online or at a local library. Remember that each tree house is unique and that building plans might need to be adapted to unique trees and circumstances. The key is to have a solid, flexible plan and to understand what type of structure is desired in a particular circumstance.

It is this foundation that Forever Young Treehouses utilizes in its construction of tree houses for organizations which work with children and adults with special needs, such as the Make a Wish Foundation and Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall. By constructing tree houses that remove the obstacles children and adults with special needs might otherwise encounter, these truly special individuals can easily access tree houses.

Reach for your dreams of a tree house and get your project off the ground. Whatever your dream may be, remember to keep a copy of the Swiss Family Robinson on the shelf, even if your exotic location is no further than your own back yard.

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