There is something powerful in owning space. It gives you a clean slate, a sense of control knowing that you can do anything with it. Here you are, ready to finalize a project but you forget an ultimate detail which could be a culprit for whatever is possible… an old giant tree.
You check if it’s still good. Meaning, whether it’s still alive or not. You suddenly get an idea that you could do something about it, like including it in your project. The possibilities, it turns out, are quite plentiful. You could turn them into a treehouse for kids, or turn it into a treetop zipline. But how would one go about to do so?
It’s important to know if it’s sturdy enough and has a safe height from the ground, if it’s damaging any part of the house, or whether the benefits, in general, outweigh being a pain. Ideally, it should sit at least 15 ft. away from your house. Besides that, let’s see first what the benefits are in having an old giant tree:
- According to the USDA Forest Service, if your trees were strategically placed around your house, it may reduce your household’s annual air-conditioning costs by 56% and your energy consumption by 20-50% when heating.
- According to the University of Purdue, a large tree could be used for its shade equivalent to SPF 10.
- According to PNW Research Station, a beautifully kept large tree usually increases a property’s appraisal to $7,130 in average.
- According to USDA National Agroforestry, a large tree may reduce 50% of urban noise and it could provide privacy from neighbours.
Having known these benefits, we could decide which amongst the following ideas could be great for your backyard.
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Hang a swing.
If you have an old giant tree that has huge sturdy trunks, hanging a swing to add to your children’s delight is an ideal way of utilizing it. Not only would it create many memories with a swing, but it would also add up to the warmth of your home. Make the usual old school swing just like what you rode when you were a kid, a hammock in which you can enjoy a book, or maximize your effort of embracing sustainability by hanging the usual cleaned-up tire onto it.
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Umph it up with a zipline.
This is most advisable if your backyard holds more than one old giant tree. Nowadays, kids are too much into online games because there’s nothing fun to do outside. Well, let’s check on that again once you have installed a zipline using these trees. It doesn’t only stir excitement in them, but it’s something that your kids will cherish about you until they get older. Ziplines will hone a lot of motor skills in them as well as social skills while they share it with siblings or invite some friends over to enjoy this unique activity. You can finally put a stop to searching for kids zipline near me on google as your kids can now have fun with ziplines, on a daily basis!
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Grow it out.
Evergreens like the American Holly and the Green Giant arborvitae are best in providing privacy. They grow into cute shapes that serve more of décor rather than a marker of your perimeter. Its luscious greens and wild berries will not only give you a cool breeze with its dew during early mornings but considering the benefits of having old giant trees, they are a keeper. Plus, the berries will serve as the wild animals’ or birds’ treats.
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Cut it into a stump and decorate your landscape with it.
If it ended up growing out of control, going all the way to damaging a house’s foundation, then it’s better to cut it into a stump. As part of your landscape, it can be used as a flower planter or it could serve as a seating stump for your tea parties.
There are a lot more ways to discover how to make use of old giant trees. But you have to be decisive if you’ll keep it or not and if it is worth it to do so. Consider global warming and climate change as you arrive on your final call. Always be sure to have a remote-first aid kit ready somewhere easily accessible for any emergencies.
Lastly, here is a video of how a tree grew in the span of 5 years which might change your mind.