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Writer's pictureAugust Hoppe

How to Attach a Tree Swing Without Damaging the Tree: Best Practices

Tree swings are a delightful addition to any yard, offering endless fun and creating lasting memories. However, to ensure your swing is safe for everyone and doesn’t damage the tree, it’s essential to attach it properly. Here’s how to do it with minimal impact on the tree’s health and longevity. 


The biggest issue for trees is friction from the rope swinging back and forth. Wrapping a rope around the tree limb sounds simple enough but it can cause severe damage to the limb. If placed too tight around the entire limb it may have the potential to choke the limb to death. Installing fixed metal hardware is the most elegant solution, but this method is often more difficult, costly, and may need a professional to install. There are other options to install swings that can make installation easy, but they do come with some potential drawbacks.


Choose the Right Tree and Branch

The first step in protecting your tree is selecting the right one. Look for a mature, healthy tree with a thick, sturdy trunk and a strong horizontal branch that can handle the weight of the swing and its users. Hardwoods like oak, maple, or elm are ideal as they are dense and durable. Avoid trees with brittle or shallow-rooted wood like pine, willow, or box elder. Make sure that the limb does not show any defects such as missing bark, cracks, cavities, or dead branch tips.  


Using Heavy-Duty Eye Bolts

One of the best and strongest ways to install a swing is to use forged eye bolts through the tree limb. These are drilled completely through and the eye bolt is tightened with a washer and nut on the top. These should be made of stainless steel or other rust-resistant material to withstand weather conditions. Install the eye bolts or hangers on a horizontal branch that is at least 8-12 inches in diameter. Eye bolts are superior to using lag screws. Lag screws simply can't handle as much weight as a drilled thru eye bolt. Over time, decay can occur in the location where the lag screw is fastened, and this wood can become weakened and the lag may pull out.  

Swing with eye bolt through the limb.

With the eye bolt drilled through, over time the tree grows new wood over the top of the fastening nut and this may even provide additional strength. Drilling through the limb is less stressful to the tree because the only damage to the stem is the hole. If a rope is slung over the branch for the swing, the friction can wear off the bark and/or cause damage to the cambium (water-conducting vessels) right under the bark.   


Slings and Attachment Points 

Another way to attach a swing is to put heavy fabric slings over the branches and attach the swing rope(s) to the slings. The slings stay relatively stationary as the swing moves back and forth, thereby minimizing friction in the system and protecting the limb. Slings are often fastened to the limbs using a knot called a girth hitch. The advantage of slings is that they do not require any drilling into the tree and they do not wear on the limb nearly as much as a simple rope over the branch would. The best practice is to move the slings periodically so they are not constantly on the same area of the limb. Even if they don't move much, moisture can be trapped under the fabric and even small amounts of movement back and forth can cause wear on the limb.

Swing installation using a sling.

Protect the Tree with a Tree Protector or Rubber Wraps

Some types of swings come with tree protectors to cushion the ropes/chain as they are passed over the limb. These can be simply wrapped over the branch as a protective material like rubber or heavy-duty nylon. This will cushion the contact point between the rope or chain and the tree, preventing bark damage and allowing the tree to grow without restrictions. Tree protectors also help distribute the weight more evenly and minimize the stress on the branch. Another option is to pass a rope through a tubular-style tree protector over the limb. These types of systems can reduce friction, but still over time can cause weakness to the limb. It is wise to inspect the swing periodically and slide or move the system to different areas on the limb to reduce wear and tear. 


Installation

Finding the perfect limb can be challenging as all trees are not created equal when it comes to swing potential. Longer horizontal limbs provide a nice sweeping trajectory for the swing without your loved one potentially smashing into the trunk. Often mounting the hardware or installing the slings will need a ladder, lift, or tree climber to make sure the swing is correctly installed. Hoppe Tree Service has installed numerous swings over the years and we are happy to help. We don't provide swings, we typically ask that you order the swing and parts and let us know ahead of time so we understand what type of installation we will need to perform.  

So, why wait? Bring the magic of a tree swing to your yard Contact Hoppe Tree Service today to learn more and get a quote for installation.



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