Trees and Power Lines

Trees and Power Lines
Trees are one of the best investments you can make in your home and landscaping. Unlike many other investments in your home that lose value over time, trees actually add value as they mature. Deciding on the right tree(s) for your yard is the first step in adding more trees. One factor you will want to keep in mind, however, is the location of your new trees with relation to existing power lines.

In this post, we are going to be discussing how far you should plant certain trees from power lines to prevent problems as the trees mature.

Considerations for Tree Selection
Beyond finding trees that are suitable to your environment and taste, you'll also want to ask yourself these questions:

• How tall will this tree grow to be? Will it come within 10 feet of a power line at full maturity?
• What is this tree's canopy spread (e.g., how wide will it get at full maturity)?
• What is this tree's growth rate? Slower-growing trees tend to be stronger and live longer than faster-growing trees.
• What will the shape of this tree be? Round and V-shaped trees offer lots of shade, while columnar trees will grow in less space.

Types of Trees
As you have probably inferred, the taller a tree becomes, the further it will need to be planted from existing power lines. As a cheat sheet, we have provided some of the most common types of trees, along with their heights and recommendations for distances from power lines.

Small Trees
These are trees that can grow to less than 20 feet at full maturity and are suitable to be planted within 15 feet of power lines.

• Common Hawthorne
• Flowering Crabapple
• Flowering Dogwood
• Redbud
• Serviceberry
• Sweetbay Magnolia
• Wafer-Ash

Medium Trees
These are trees that can grow from 25-50 feet at full maturity and should be planted 20+ feet from overhead power lines.

• American Arborvitae
• Common Hawthorne
• False Cypress
• Flowering Crabapple
• Flowering Dogwood
• Japanese Yew
• Junipers
• Redbud
• Serviceberry
• Sweetbay Magnolia
• Wafer-Ash

Large Trees
These are trees that can grow to 40+ feet at full maturity and should be planted 50+ feet from overhead power lines.

• Austrian Pine
• Blue Spruce
• Ginkgo
• Linden or Basswood
• London Plane
• Norway Maple
• Oak
• Sugar Maple
• Sweetgum
• White Firs
• White Pine

Trees Unsuitable To Be Near Power Lines
Finally, there are some trees that just simply do not belong anywhere near power lines. If you have power lines nearby, scratch these trees off your list.

• Catalpa
• Carolina Poplar
• Silver Maple
• Boxelder
• Willow
• Siberian Elm
• Black Locust
• Cottonwood
• Tree of Heaven
• Mulberry
• Elm Species

In Conclusion
One of the best ways to accentuate any landscape design, as well as add value to your home, is to plant a tree or two. That said, you need to give serious thought to the type of tree you want and where you are able to plant it. Trees growing to heights that can interfere with power lines are sure to be a headache in years to come. As with <i>any</i> landscaping decisions, a little planning goes a long way.

If you are ready to add trees to your landscaping, E.P.M. Lawnscape and Supply can help. We offer full tree and shrub planting services for a variety of different environments. To learn more, contact us online or give us a call at (517) 990-0110 today.

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