Tree benches made of wood offer a very special charm. With a little manual skill, such a tree bench is relatively easy to build yourself. Instructions can be found here.
The house tree is the focal point of the garden, a popular meeting place and an atmospheric and nostalgic place to relax and leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind. All of this can be underlined when a tree bench invites you to linger. Tree benches are built entirely or only partially around the tree. A cozy and shady retreat has been found. We would now like to tell you what is important when building such a bench, which wood you should use and how you can build a tree bench yourself and design it creatively.
Will a tree bench fit in my garden?
This question is easy to answer: If you have a stately garden tree, this is the perfect spot for a tree bench. As a rule, space problems should not arise, because the area around the house tree is usually free and consists of lawn. The tree bench can also be an alternative in small gardens where there may not be enough space for a larger seating area. If the tree bench is constructed completely around the tree, as is the case in our example, then five to seven people can gather there and even the extended family has found a cozy place and a shady place on hot summer days.
Which wood should be used?
Tree benches for the garden are preferably made of wood, as they look particularly warm and cozy and fit in very well with the natural surroundings. Which wood you ultimately decide on is worth a few considerations. After all, the tree bench should be preserved for many years.
The general assumption is that only hard tropical woods are really suitable for outdoor use. We cannot agree with this without comment, although tropical wood is hard and robust, it is ecologically much more welcome to use domestic wood. You will also feel this in your wallet. Tropical woods are not available without restrictions, are often felled illegally and end up in long-distance supplyTransport routes to us.
» Tip: If tropical wood has the FSC seal, it can be proven that it is wood from sustainable management.
Local woods can definitely be used for the tree bench. However, the wood should not be left untreated. Otherwise it will quickly lose its pretty color and grain and appear gray and stained. If the wood is regularly coated with wood oil or wood stain, it will retain its beauty and natural radiance for many years.
» Tip: It is best to protect the wood of the tree bench annually and at the beginning of the gardening season.
These native woods are best suited for the tree bench:
| Wood species | Description |
|---|---|
| Oak | • Oak wood is heavy and quite strong. • The European white oak is particularly preferable. • The stable wood is often used as construction wood. |
| Sweet Chestnut | • The wood of the sweet chestnut is lighter than oak, while being extremely strong and elastic. • Chestnut wood is very easy to work with and does not splinter when sawing or drilling. • The sweet chestnut has has a high tannin content, which ensures resistance to moisture. • Sweet chestnut is even used in stilt houses. • The wood does not have to be impregnated every year and retains its natural beauty for many years. |
| Larch | • If you are looking for a hard and heavy native wood, larch is the first choice. • The wood is extremely durable and durable and is often used in bridge and hydraulic engineering. |
Build your own tree bench - explained step by step
❖ Tool:
- Wooden boards
- wood glue
- Wood Screws
- Cordless Screwdriver
- Cordless Drill
- Chop saw, pull saw or plunge saw
- angle measure
❖ Steps:
❶ Cut wooden planks for the legs
❷ Assemble the legs
❸ Cut wooden plank for the seat
❹ Assemble the seat to the legs
❺ Attach the panels
❻ Cut the wooden boards for the backrest
❼ Attach the backrest to the base
❽ Completely assemble the tree bench
❾ Attach the tree bench to the tree
❖ Materials:
For a medium sized tree bench that seats about five people and runs around the entire tree, wooden planks are used for the six legs in the followingDimensions needed:
- Front legs - six boards (7x7x43 cm)
- Lehne - Six boards (7×3.5x86cm)
- Upper side panel - twelve boards (7×3.5x50cm)
- Lower side part - twelve boards (7×3.5x45cm)
❖ Instructions:
Attach the lower side part to the front legs and the backrest at a height of two centimeters from the lower edge. The front leg is indented four centimeters and ends with the upper side part. The upper edge of the two side parts is flush with the upper edge of the backrest.
The amount of wood used for the seat depends on the size of your garden tree.
Again, these recommendations are for a medium-sized tree and a bench that goes all the way around the trunk.
1. Board - one meter outside, 81 cm inside
2nd board - 81 cm outside, 65 cm inside
3rd board - 65 cm outside, 49 cm inside
Step 1:
You will need about 18 wooden planks, 2 cm wide and 15 cm long. The boards are now cut to size. A 30 degree angle should be observed at the ends. Now screw the three boards to the legs of the tree bench with a cordless screwdriver - I recommend a Metabo cordless screwdriver. Start from the center of the backrest.
Step 2:
If the boards are additionally covered, the tree bench scores with an appealing look, and the risk of injury can also be avoided because the wooden edges are no longer visible and therefore cannot splinter. Also the boards for the facing are cut at a 30 degree angle.
» Tip: You need six wooden boards measuring 3.5 x 7 cm x one metre.
Step 3:
The facings are now screwed to the legs. Now assemble the backrest. Twelve wooden boards measuring 1.8 x 12 cm are needed for this. The length varies and ranges between 40 cm and 46 cm. Here, too, an angle of 30 degrees at the ends must be observed when cutting. A 10 percent incline must also be taken into account. The 40 cm long boards are used for attachment to the upper backrest. The 46 cm long wooden slats are screwed to the lower backrest.
Step 4:
The tree bench is now fully assembled. In order to place them in place, the screws on the side must be loosened again. Be careful not to glue the wood here yet. Now the two halves are arranged around the trunk andaligned. It is often necessary to level out any unevenness with pieces of wood or the application of gravel or crushed stone. Finally, the two side parts are glued and screwed. Now you can tighten all the screws and reward yourself with the first try.
Metal tree benches - an alternative?
Check out this post on InstagramA post shared by Katja (@my_country_living) on Jul 22, 2022 at 2:22 PM PDT
Although our post refers to the wooden tree bench, we would like to mention the metal tree bench. After all, this offers an alternative to all those who do not want to try to build a tree bench themselves. Metal tree benches are available in a wide variety of designs.
The advantages of metal are obvious. It is a robust and weather-resistant material. The metal bench does not have to appear cold and sober. The metal benches are often equipped with elaborate decorations and speak to the heart of romantics. If you want to enjoy a strong and durable tree bench, a metal bench kit may be an alternative.
Tree benches made of pallets
Furniture made from pallets for indoor and outdoor use is very trendy. After all, the material is inexpensive to obtain and extremely flexible. Pallets are easy to work with and can also be stacked on top of each other without any problems because they are standardized in size. It is definitely worth experimenting with pallets and creating very unusual tree benches. However, some manual dexterity will be required and you will need to equip yourself with professional tools, such as an electric foxtail, in order to be able to process the material.
More creative ideas for the individual tree bench
By using different woods and wood thicknesses, multi-faceted tree benches can be constructed. While thinner wood looks more filigree, the use of sturdy wooden slats can give the tree bench a rustic look.
The tree bench with armrests provides extra comfort. With an average-sized tree bench, five to eight comfortable seats can be created.
Tree benches do not automatically have to curve around the trunk. Square constructions are also a nice idea. If the bench runs as a square around the trunk, a recess is automatically left free. This can be optimally exploited if you use thisfill with soil and create a pretty underplanting for the house tree.
» Tip: If your garden tree seems unsuitable for a tree bench due to the sloping trunk, simply construct an L-shaped model.