Which wood is best for outdoor use?

Douglas fir/larch are very robust; spruce/fir/pine work well with sealing. Chamfer edges, pre-drill and protect with DIN EN 71-3 lacquer .

How long does the battery last on the GTA 26?

Running and charging times vary depending on the wood and working method. A second rechargeable battery allows you to work continuously.

Are AS batteries compatible?

Yes - e.g. GTA 26 , HSA 26 and SEA 20 use the same battery in the AS-System .

Do I need a foil against soil moisture?

Mostly not necessary. PVC sleeves protect the feet of the poles; grit drainage and raised plant frames help when the soil is wet. <p

What is the ideal size for the garden tent?

A diameter of 2.5-3.0 m offers space for two to three children and sufficient planting space.

Build your own garden tent for children

Q: What is the ideal size for the garden tent?

A diameter of 2.5-3.0 m offers space for two to three children and sufficient planting space.

With seven poles, rope and climbing plants, you can build a green play tent for the garden - child-safe, durable and perfect for cozy garden days.

21.11.2025

Planning and preparation
Instructions: Step-by-step to your own tipi
Care tips
Frequently asked questions and answers

A green adventure in the garden: Natural teepee to play in

A garden tent for children is a sturdy tepee construction made of wood that is anchored to a heptagonal base frame made of tongue-and-groove boards. The base frame serves as a support for a temporary fabric covering and also functions as a permanent climbing aid for climbing plants, which form a natural, green canopy over time.

Feature	Description
Difficulty	Medium
Time required	approx. 6-8 hours pure construction time (without drying times)
Estimated costs	approx. 150-250 € (depending on the type of wood and DIY store)
Core idea	A tepee frame made of squared timber is mounted on a solid base frame made of tongue-and-groove boards. A fabric cover provides instant protection while climbing plants green the tent.
Tools required	STIHL GTA 26 garden pruner for precise cuts
Most important safety feature	Weatherproof clear coat according to DIN EN 71-3 (suitable for children's toys)

The right planning & preparation for the green play tent

A good plan is half the battle: Before you start building your garden tent, you should consider a few points. This ensures smooth assembly - and the play tent is safe, stable and durable.

The ideal choice of location

Surface: Choose a lawn that is as level as possible. This makes it easier to set up and ensures stability.

Safety: Position the tent so that you have a good view of it from the house or terrace. Keep away from fences, walls or garden ponds.

Sun protection: A place in partial shade is ideal for outdoor playtime fun. This means it doesn't get too hot in the tent in midsummer and the plants still get enough light.

The right material

Drone image of the required material and equipment. GTA 26, cordless sander, hand tacker, ...

You can use spruce, fir, pine or Douglas fir.

Spruce/fir: Inexpensive and easy to work with. Requires very good wood protection as it is not very weather-resistant.

Pine: Slightly more weather-resistant and resin-rich than spruce.

Douglas/Larch: Naturally much more robust and durable against moisture. Ideal for outdoor use, but also more expensive.

A precise cutting list is crucial. It is best to have the wooden parts ready straight away.

Component	Type of wood	Quantity
Tent poles	Squared timber	7 pcs.
Door beams	Squared timber (smaller)	1 pc.
Floor boards	Tongue and groove boards	16 pcs.
Cross planks (floor)	Planks	4 pcs.

Workbench & wooden trestle

Measuring tape

Geotriangle or carpenter's square

Garden pruner (e.g. STIHL GTA 26)

Multi-sander with 150 grit sandpaper

Rubber or plastic hammer

A cordless screwdriver with bit attachments

Accumulator drill with:
- 15 mm Forstner bit
- 4 mm & 6 mm wood drill bits

Level

Staple gun with 8 mm staples

Flat paintbrush

Planting shovel

Bucket

Watering can

Accessories: Pencil, scissors

8 tongue and groove boards: 22 × 140 mm × 300 cm (parts 1-6*)

7 squared timbers (chamfered): 34 × 34 mm × 240 cm (part 7*)

1 squared timber (chamfered): 23 × 23 mm × 200 cm (part 8*)

84 wood screws (3.5 × 40 mm)

Wood glue

7 wooden stakes / thin planting sticks / tent pegs (marking)

7 pieces of PVC pipe, approx. 10 cm long / 5 cm Ø (e.g.  downpipe sleeves)

14 m rope (Ø 6 mm) - ideal sisal/hemp

1 screw hook (M5 × 50 mm)

1 metal screw (M6 × 70 mm), 1 washer (M6), 1 cap nut (M6)

Weatherproof clear lacquer (approx. 375 ml), DIN EN 71-3

Grit (approx. 1 l or 500 g)

Potting compost (approx. 50 l)

Binding wire/string for plants

LED fairy lights (outdoor, 10 m)

Fabric remnant (approx. 100 × 100 cm)

Cloths & cushions of your choice

Outdoor rug or old blanket (approx. 180 × 200 cm)

21 seeds of annual climbing plants (e.g. fire bean, Phaseolus coccineus)

7 perennial climbing plants (e.g. hops, Humulus lupulus or thornless climbing rose)

Committed to your safety: the protective equipment

Working with powerful devices is fun and lets you surpass yourself. It's good if you can rely on effective and ergonomic protective clothing when doing so.

Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with STIHL tools. Details can be found in the operating instructions for your product. Familiarize yourself thoroughly with your tool before using it for the first time and make sure that your tool is in perfect condition before each use.

Your STIHL dealers will prepare each tool for its first use on request and advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for a safe working technique.

Build a garden tent for children with our step-by-step guide

Saw the tongue and groove boards into 7 equal pieces of approx. 120 cm in length. These form the floor frame. The 7 squared timbers (34x34mm) serve as tent poles and retain their full length. Saw the thinner squared timber (23x23mm) to a length of approx. 80 cm for the door. Use the STIHL GTA 26 garden pruner for fast and clean cuts.

The wooden board is sawn off with the GTA 26 cordless wood cutter.

Drill a 6 mm hole in the top end of each of the 7 long tent poles. The central screw will be inserted here later. Then sand all cut edges on the boards and bars smooth to avoid splinters.

STIHL TIP: Always pre-drill the holes to prevent the wood from splitting.

Lay out the 7 cut tongue and groove boards to form an even heptagon on a flat surface. Apply wood glue to the joint edges and screw the boards together at the corners to form a stable, closed frame.

A kneeling man screws the support plates in place with a cordless screwdriver.

Now apply a water-repellent clear varnish to all wooden parts (floor frame and tent poles). Allow everything to dry completely according to the instructions before continuing with the assembly.

All wooden parts are varnished with clear lacquer.

Place the prepared base frame outside in the garden in the desired location. Then hammer marker stakes into the ground at the points where the tent poles are to be attached later.

The children's tent is set up in the garden.

Put a rope through the holes in the tent struts and tie them tightly together. This creates a stable framework that defines the shape of the tent. Align the poles so that they form an even tepee shape. Only now pull the rope tight at the tip to stabilize the construction.

The tent struts are tied together at the top with a rope.

Remove the marking sticks and place sturdy plastic tubes at the marked positions. Weigh them down with stones so that they stand firmly. Now insert the wooden struts into the tubes - this gives the tent additional stability.

The tent struts are inserted into the plastic tube filled with sand.

First drill holes in the front two tent struts to then attach the door beam. Now attach the screw hook on one side and screw the door beam to the other side. You can then cover the door frame with fabric and attach it to the back with staples.

The man measures the crossbeam with a spirit level to make sure it is straight.

Spiral the rope around the tipi frame from bottom to top. This serves as a climbing aid for the plants. Now fill the base frame with the potting soil. Place your climbing plants in the ground along the frame. Water everything well.

Holes are dug around the children's tent for the plants.

To ensure that the tent can be used immediately, cover the frame with a blanket or a robust cloth (e.g. made of cotton). Fasten the fabric with a staple gun. Place a floor mat or carpet and cushions inside. There are no limits when it comes to crafting and decorating. The cozy teepee tent for children is ready!

Girl and man cover the tent frame with a blanket or rug.

Suitable STIHL products for your garden tent project

For a successful project like this children's tent made of wood and climbing plants, reliable tools are crucial. These STIHL products are the ideal helpers:

Note:

Products of the STIHL AS-System use the same battery (AS 2). Check availability and specifications per market.

Build your own climbing support - here's how

With our DIY instructions, you can build a sturdy climbing support for the garden from wood and rope. Easy to implement, durable and ideal for climbing plants.

To the step-by-step instructions