Tree swallowing up object nailed into it

Rosalinda Eyes

He's been renting the land since about April and has hammered a big nail-like thing into our finest tree. The tree has grown since and and has expanded out around this object. When I first saw it yesterday, it looked like the farmer had since tried to get it out... and that when untwisting it, some the plastic part cracked off. I tried a to get it out with by hammering something narrow and rigid in around it, and as you can see, I ended up cracking more of the plastic off.

What can be done to get this out easily? I know I can get it out, but I wouldn't want a huge hole being. Given the size of the tree it should survive it in either case. I assume it wouldn't harm the tree in any way being left there. But the thought of it being in there forever more drives me mad.

HeidiHeidi

http://nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com/2010/02/22-trees-growing-around-objects.html

Trees are very adaptable.

I'd be more worried about harming it by taking the nail out, tbh - leaving a "wound" is leaving an opening for disease.

The Continental Op

Leave it for anyone with a chainsaw to find in a hundred years time ;-)

The living part of the tree is that very thin layer under the bark. It won't be long until that layer has grown over the nail and you just won't see it anymore. The nail will then be in the "dead" part of the tree and not affecting it at all.

Alun

I'm a woodturner, and often find nails or staples embedded inside pieces of wood sometimes many inches below where the bark was. I'd leave it there if I were you for the reason given above.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440688#Comment_119440688

Ouch! That sounds worse than catching a nail with a chainsaw.

Furze99

Chisel around edges a bit, then use pincers, crowbar if needed. Just as the tree will grow around it, it'll also repair the hole left behind

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440780#Comment_119440780

I fully disagree. Leave it alone. The tree will grow around it. I've seen gates several feet into mature trees. It will do no harm. Taking it out damages the tree and the wound from the hole will leave it susceptible to fungal and viral infection.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440839#Comment_119440839

Sure meant to add, protect against infection for a while. The problem with leaving an object like that in a tree is that it could cause a nasty accident for someone down the road if it ever needs to be felled or has been storm damaged and being cleared up. A bench or gate is fairly obvious if you're using a chainsaw, but not small metal objects. That's what I'd be thinking anyway.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440869#Comment_119440869

I'm sorry but when you have a lovely and healthy mature tree in your garden you shouldn't be making decisions about, or taking risks with, it just because somebody sometime may be cutting that bit of timber with a chainsaw.

And protecting against infection is much easier said than done.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440904#Comment_119440904

LOL Jim, I know what you mean but it could be your son or relative who takes over long after you're six feet down.

One of the tactics used by people wishing to protect trees from clearance is to hammer the likes of six inch nails into them.

I'm all for planting, maintaining and admiring trees but eventually they have a sell by date.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440690#Comment_119440690

has happened me once ot twice; no major drama, the tool needs a bit of resharpening, but since woodturning is often slowly peeling away the wood a mm or less at a time, it's not quite the same as hitting the nail dead on in the middle.

Alun

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119441005#Comment_119441005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440690#Comment_119440690

Yes, usually they appear gradually, so you're usually alerted to their presence first by a rapid tick-tick-tick noise, sometimes a few sparks and a glimmer of something shiny before anything major happens. Occasionally a small rusty nail will work it's way loose and you'll catch it but it's usually so rusted it just breaks off.

magicbastarder

A woodturning gouge wouldn't have trouble with aluminum or copper, but you don't find many nails made from those.

Rosalinda Eyes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440780#Comment_119440780

It's really tight. I don't know if I could do that to the tree. The only way would be to pay someone to weld a piece of metal onto the end of the nail... in the shape of a hook, which I could then use for leverage.

CJhaughey

Looks like a Gallagher electric fence isolator.

https://www.gallagher.eu/en_at/screw-in-insulator-bs-wood-small-pack-of-25

Rosalinda Eyes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119440869#Comment_119440869

And tis me who'll be getting the blame for such an accident! No one will think of the farmer who's only been renting the land.

The Continental Op

OP lets put some perspective on this but have a seat first.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119446488#Comment_119446488

That's been in that tree longer than since April. It's years old.