On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 15:28:09 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote:

",,,,,,,,, What is UNsafe is wrapping any sort
of rope or wire around a tree.........."

No what is unsafe is LEAVING a rope or wire wrapped tight around the tree
from one year to the next.
It is safer than trusting a hook.


"....... Eventually, it will girdle (slice into) the
bark and work its way into the channels which carry fluids through the
tree........."
nothing unsafe about trusting a hook, assuming you make sure to get
one large enough to support the weight and you screw it into sound
(non-decayed) wood. Certainly a rope tied around the trunk is not
inherently harmful, but we all know how easy it is to forget how long
things like this have been in place. As the tree grows, a hook will
simply be covered over by the new wood (not great news for anyone
cutting into the wood later with a chainsaw, but that's part of
cutting suburban trees) but if a rope is left tied in place it will
girdle the trunk, as was mentioned above.

To more directly answer the OP: No, the metal will not kill the tree.
The only damage is the small hole drilled to accommodate the hook, and
it's pretty insignificant. Leave it alone.

Keith Babberney
ISA Certified Arborist
For more info about the International Society of Arboriculture, please visit http://www.isa-arbor.com/home.asp.
For consumer info about tree care, visit http://www.treesaregood.com/