Drilling holes in trees OK?

[mikeymo]

The fence at the bottom of my garden is down. There are two healthy (looking) mature horse chestnuts there, that would make pretty good posts. Will I harm them by screwing about 6 coach bolts into each. Maybe 4-6 inches long?

Each tree is maybe 2-3 feet in diameter. I wondered if stainless steel coach bolts would be best.

 

[pmuscato]

Yes you will harm the trees, will you kill them, probably not.

 

[treeseer]

Harm is minimal if you predrill.

 

[R Schra]

Just fine for a chestnut to hinge a fence on it.