Decorate and Enjoy your Yard with a Rope Swing

A rope swing is a great way to bring both physical activity and old-fashioned whimsy to your yard. In the yard, it's easy to set up a rope swing to hang from a tree, from the eaves, or a custom swing frame. It is sure to provide a comfortable way of relaxing in the garden, at the cottage, or on the deck. Share the joy of swinging through a local breeze during some hot, humid summer months.

There are so many styles available in yard swings, from the classic wooden swings to European wrought iron, to ultra comfortable all-weather wicker swings ~ it will be a challenge to choose from among them. There's something so comforting about the gentle rocking of a swing, the perfect place to relax away the stress of your day. A great example of a patio swing available now from our affiliate is the Jennings Traditional 4-Foot Swing in Unfinished Solid Fir.

If you don't have a safe place to hang your patio swing, have a look at the many styles of free-standing swings available to place on a deck or lawn. A 1 inch thick manila or sisal rope will be easy to hold on to and very safe. However, be aware that manila has a tendency to rot and over time could break, putting someone at risk. Choose sisal for longevity. Coat the ends of the rope with rubber or whipping to prevent fraying. Priming the seats and then adding multiple coats of paint is also a good idea.

For a more adventurous look, when creating a swing with 2 ropes, you can also use mountaineer's climbing rope: Dynamic Rock Climbing Rope It's quite strong and weather-resistant, but with standard diameters of only 1/2 inch or less, they're not such good hand-holding ropes.

More do-it-yourself tips:

Half of our work is finding the perfect branch. We climb up in the tree and test several spots, making sure it's a good swing and that there's enough space for swinging without banging into the tree trunk or a fence... Place your ladder up against the tree branch and climb up to where you want to place the rope. Make sure it is far enough away from the tree that the kids won't swing on it and slam back in to the tree. Thinner limbs are less sturdy: try to get a thick one which will sturdily hold a child's (or an adult's!) weight without bouncing and sapping energy. And choose a live branch as the dead wood branches will deteriorate.

Attaching the rope to the tree branch with a little more width at the tree branch than at the swing provides more lateral stability. Without this, the swing may tend to twirl or rotate in motion. Adjusting the height of the swing can also be a bit tricky: of course the seat should be level, and the swinger's feet should just be able to reach the ground. Too low, and some injuries could occur by kids' feet dragging along or by the ground friction pulling someone out of the swing. (Of course, swingers should try to keep feet raised through the ride).

Cut off any excess rope so that the rope does not touch the ground.
For wood parts: sand all the edges, then prime it with an outdoor wood primer. Have your child decorate the swing with acrylic paints (freehand or with stencils), then cover it with a coat of protective clear varnish.

Try the rope swing out yourself first. Swing on it by sitting on a knot. Then try the rope swing again by standing on one of the knots. Kids will want to play with the rope swing in many different ways such as sitting on it, standing on it, etc.

Features of Yard Rope Swings

• Fade and mildew-resistant rope and fabrics
• A variety of choices in color, style, size, and materials
• Safety first for the kids
• the most romantic place in your home, patio, or garden
• hanging porch swings require strong overhead support
• a do-it-yourself (DIY) swing can feature a cut board, a round circle, a tire, a belt, or a log for the seat.
• free-standing swings are available for deck or garden landscape. An example is the Free-standing A - Frame Yard Swing which is a good size for 2 persons.