It is unlikely to bother the tree at all. In fact, pulling the nail out is far more likely to cause harm. And never put anything on a tree wound.......the tree will "heal" itself.

I would probably remove it. It's impossible to say how much damage occurred, especially without seeing it. If you do remove it, be careful not to do more damage while doing the removal. Nothing you put on the wound will help the tree heal itself.

Nails get hammered into trees all the time. Often accidentally, as with your fence builder, but just as often intentionally - to hang lights, bird houses or other decorations or to attach tree houses and play equipment. Or to park a bike :)) It is really NBD.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/1650851/nail-in-oak-tree

The only problem with putting nails in trees occurs when it is removed. When the Chainsaw or any saw hits the nail there can be serious consequences. This could become a problem in 59 years when the tree has to be removed, or much earlier it it comes down in a storm. If the nail is in a limb, the problem could occur if the limb is removed.

They put large bolts all the way through a tree when they cable them together.

It's an ISA approved practice and is used for various corrective measures.

The nail is not the issue (for the health of the tree), it's the brace that will be moving around when the wind blows the fence. It's similar to a crossing branch. Removing the nail, if done correctly (without further bruising the bark) is extremely unlikely to result in damage to the tree. Also, leaving a nail in the tree is not a good idea. It can lead to problems up to and including serious injury or death to someone cutting the tree in future years.

Bill, a dull chain is the common result of hitting a nail, but it's certainly not the only thing that can happen. If you'll notice, I said, "...up to and including..." If you check arborist chat sites, you'll see that breaking a chain when hitting an embedded object is not impossible. The chain catch will usually keep you safe, but nothing is 100%. Only a very careless arborist would cut into a tree if they knew there was a nail in the path of their chain.

Just for the record, breaking a chain isn't that big of a deal. The instant a chain breaks, it no longer has full, direct contact with the drive mechanism and simply falls limp and piles up at one end of the bar or the other, incapable of any real damage.

And any cutter that doesn't know enough to wear appropriate safety equipment, falls into the category of inexperienced novice, not arborist or particularly an ISA arborist.

I defer extending this argument but will affirm again, one nail in a tree is not that big of a deal. It can cost you an hour of lost time when you hit one while cutting, longer if you work to remove the nail before proceeding with the cut.

Generally, after sharpening/chain replacement you just pick a different spot and continue on.

I've cut down 100's of mature trees in my lifetime and found many embedded metal objects in them, some with my chainsaw. Some were square nails once used up to the mid to late 1800's and none had never hurt the trees 150 years later. NO, the nail won't harm your tree.

I took down an old oak tree that had became a hazard to the homes between it and at the base an old field fence was embedded smack dab through the center of the tee. I used a man lift the home owners paid for and cut it down for the wood. NO, the nail won't harm your tree.

When a boy in the early 60's I built a tree house in an old oak tree across the street on vacant land and hammered in countless nails of all sizes. Houses were built on the land in the late 60's but the tree stayed and still stands today, the tree swallowed the nails with no harm to the tree. NO, the nails won't harm your tree.

Thanks, people!! I'll try to put up a photo. At least I guess it won't hurt the tree too much. (However, there have been other insults lately - so, I may pull it out anyway.)

TBH n2sgreen,

Without seeing the brace, nailing it to a tree would be a really solid way of securing it.

Is it at a right angle to the fence?

The other way would be an additional post nearby, with the brace nailed to the post.

Based on your post, I consider it poor workmanship. Instead of placing a post on either side of the tree, he used the tree as a post.

The nail will not hurt the tree, but what happens when the tree grows?

A Mat,

According to the original post:

'I saw that part of a fence brace had been nailed into a mature ficus.

It is a slender metal piece, and the end is attached to the tree about 4' up.'

So, it's a brace that's nailed to the tree, not the fence itself.

And depending on where the fence is located in relation to the tree, would determine if an alternate method is even feasible.

A metal brace nailed to a mature tree will be there forever albeit will eventually be absorbed somewhat, into the tree. In fact, the brace will be there long after the fence has served its usefulness of life.

If possible, a metal stake or post would be best to attach the brace but until we get some pictures it all a guess.

I did not see the post re the slender metal piece. But wouldnt a post on either side of the tree show pride, workmanship?

I do not want a bush fix at my home.

I understand that and am not proliferator of 'Bush Fixes'.

And I'm not sure if the fence actually crossed over where the tree is located.

It sounds like the fence ends somewhere near the tree and they ran a brace from the end post over to the tree. But I can guess all I want and not have any idea of what the reality of the situation is. A picture would certainly help.

How is this question related to houseplants?