Whilst a swing can be a fun addition to a garden, adding this feature to one of your trees could potentially leave you in need of the help of a tree removal professional. Read on to find out why.

1. The swing could destabilise the tree

Adding a swing to a tree could destabilise it to the point where you might eventually have to get it cut down. The reason for this is as follows; the roots of a tree are what help to keep it upright and stable. If you put a swing on one side of the tree, and then you and your family members proceed to use the swing on a regular basis, the weight of the swing itself and the weight of each of your bodies could gradually cause the roots on the opposite side of the tree to move upwards, out of the soil.

Unless the tree has pre-existing root damage, this process is unlikely to happen overnight; it may take months or perhaps even years for the affected section of the roots to start peeking through the soil. However, it may happen at a faster rate if relatively heavy adults frequently sit on the swing.

Once this uprooting process begins, there is a far greater risk of the tree collapsing if it is then exposed to strong (i.e. gale-force or cyclonic) winds. Due to the fact that the collapse of the tree could cause major property damage, you may have to remove the tree when it first starts showing signs of destabilisation.

2. The swing could cause the tree to develop a disease 

Most tree swings feature chains or ropes, which are looped around a sturdy branch and then secured into place with bolts, or by creating tight knots. Each time the swing is used, these chains or ropes will rub against the branch's bark, and in doing so, will abrade it. Over time, this may result in wounds forming in these areas. When a tree develops a wound, fungi, viruses and bacteria can get into its system and cause a disease to develop.

This disease may not only affect the tree's appearance (by causing the formation of growths, spots and discoloured foliage) but may also make its trunk structurally unstable. If this happens, you would probably have to get the entire tree removed, in order to prevent it from collapsing and causing injury or property damage.