Will drilling in a pine tree hurt it?

I just moved to a new house and I have no where to hang my hanging baskets. I have a couple of huge pine trees in my back yard. Will it hurt them to mount some pot hangers by either drilling into them and putting a hook or nail? And how many would be okay? I could put a chain around one and attach it to the other and hang them that way if it will hurt them to drill into them. Your advice will be highly appreciated.

Jesse

Every time you drill into a live tree you are opening a small wound. If you drill enough holes, or if a vector insect or borer is attracted by the sap vapors, it could be a problem. But not very likely.

Can you reach any of the lower limbs with a long wire and hang the pots that way? If so, pad the wire where it loops over the branch so it doesn't cut into it.

Guy S.

Is there something that I could buy to put around the site of where I put a nail that could help the tree not be so wounded?

Jesse

No you shouldn't treat a tree wound with tar or other gunk.

What's wrong with wrought iron shepards hooks for your plants?

Mary,

I cannot afford enough of those to hang all my baskets on. They would be great if I could afford them.

Jesse

Repeat: can you reach any of the lower limbs with a long wire and hang the pots that way? If so, pad the wire where it loops over the branch so it doesn't cut into it.

This also might be a good excuse to cull your hanger collection and eliminate some of them that are past their prime.

Guy S.

Cheap option: tie a tripod of three bamboo poles together, and hang the basket from the top of that

Resin

I have no hessitation to put tiny hooks in my trees for hanging. Far less damage is done with a threaded hook, than by a HUNG hook that's forgotten and then embedded.

My preference are tiny 2" long hooks that penetrate a hole barely 1/8" wide.

It's one of the suggestions I added to my Advice Page 1 as a mini-topic.

The tiny threaded eyes can be backed out a turn or two every years to prevent them from getting totally encased.

Well I had this idea. I bought some cable covered with plastic and decided to go around one tree and then another. Not all the way around one and then the other but make a big circle around the two. Then tighten it enough so that it will not slip. That would give me two strands of cable to hang from. I will use one of those turn buckles like you use on a clothes line to get it a little tight. I think this will work and if I have to I could use a small hook on each tree to keep it in place. That way the weight will not be much on the hook but on the covered cable. Plus this gives me room on both sides of the tree for hanging baskets.

Jesse