Stump growth and platform stability?

Forum: Building your treehouse › Designs and plans

Elsa

2009-10-25, 01:02 #1

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Subject: Stump growth and platform stability?

If you cut down a 40-foot (12-meter) Norway maple to a height of 6 to 10 feet (about 2 meters) and you build a platform on the stump (either on the cut trunk or just above where the trunk branches in two) for a child's "treehouse" (actually a "stumphouse"), will the cambium layer continue to grow and tend to make the platform unstable?

We're having this tree removed because it is a squirrel magnet and we have squirrel damage to the roof of our house.

One of the tree removal people gave us an estimate of $950 to cut the tree down and an additional $1,200 to remove both the stump and the large, extensive roots.

I then described my "stumphouse" idea, and he said we shouldn't do this because the cambium layer will continue to grow, especially since we would be removing most of the aboveground part of the tree and leaving the root system to supply lots of water. I don't understand this because I thought a tree that has no leaves "dies".

I'm wondering whether he said this because he has an ulterior motive - getting hired to remove the stump and roots. Or is he being a good guy and looking out for the safety of my child?

The Treehouse Guide Administrator 2009-10-25, 23:54 #2

User title: The Treehouse Guide
since Aug 2006 · 67 posts
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Norway maple is a vigorous species and will regrow many new shoots if cut back like this. A lot of deciduous trees can regrow from stumps, while coniferous species tend to die. You could still build your treehouse on a living stump but the tree must not be girdled or otherwise restricted from growing outwards. The platform would be just as stable as one built around a full sized tree.

If you want to kill the tree but save the trunk and roots for your stumphouse, you can use an injection of the systemic herbicide glyphosate. This is applied in the growing season in concentrated form via holes drilled into the base of the trunk. Once the leaves die back you can remove the majority of the tree. Additional support from posts should be used if you use a dead stump to support the house. Using any chemicals in this way may not be permitted in your area and the process should only be carried out after consulting with your tree removal contact to ensure it is carried out safely.

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