Are we talking like a three inch hook in a tree that is three feet around?

If so, the hook does the tree no favors but probably will not lead to any serious damage.

Is that about what you have going on?

On the extreme end folks put huge bars and cables into trees to save them from breaking apart.

It's a mature oak. The nail is a 3" spike.

what is worse ...

marital discord.. or a hole in the tree ...

it is suggested that guys who climb trees with spikes.. create holes which never heal ...

you might be better off.. leaving the nail in the tree on that logic ...

and momma wont poison your next meal ... plus, plus.. there.. lol ..

tell her you will live with that nail.. if she will promise to not do it again ...

ken

It won't hurt your tree. In fact, it would probably do a lot more damage to remove the nail than to leave it. Just remember that it's there if you ever have to cut down the tree. Nails can be pretty bad on chainsaw chains.

"Nails can be pretty bad on chainsaw chains"

And even worse on the person using the chainsaw, when the nail kicks the chainsaw up into their face. I'd remove the nail, to prevent any risk of that ever happening.

Resin

Will this hurt the tree? No. There is barbed wire fencing that grew into an oak by my folks that's been there for 50+ years with no harm to the tree.

Should I take it out? Only after you explain the danger it poses to those who will eventually chainsaw it to your wife.

tj

awe pshaw ...

if you have no inclination to cutting this thing down ... then marital discord is the issue ...

will she poison you or not??? is this really the time and place to take a stand???? of all the things in the world to stand up about.. is this spike really important????

cant you just wait until late fall ... and remove it then .. when she is in the house for 6 months.. not thinking about it .. meanwhile discussing the issue ... and teaching about the risks???

negotiating 101 ....

ken

ps: just dont forget about it.. and leave it there for its next owner ....

This tree will never be cut down. I'm leaving it.

FWIW, I have seen nails become conduits for rot and other disease. But I have also saw trees with barbed wire and even steel fence posts in them that seemed none the worst for it. Me personally, I would remove it if I could without doing significantly more damage. Plus as Resin said, eventually the tree will come down and the nail will pose a danger then, weather that is next year after a storm, or 80 years from now after you will likely not be at the house.

Arktrees

Other than the chainsaw thing, its probably not a significant concern. Since its already in the tree, might as well leave it there. You could easily do more damage by removing it, and an empty nail hole in the tree is more likely to cause rot than the hole filled with the nail, at least until the tree sealed it over.