Archive for May, 2010

Tree limbs and power lines are not a good combination, especially when Midwestern storms bring lightning, high winds and hail.  Tree limbs can short circuit your electricity if they rub against your power lines.  This may cause your lights to flicker or digital clocks to stop.  The best way to ensure your trees never rub on your lines is to do some simple planning before you plant.  This article is by no means your final stop for information.  Homeowners should work with their local nursery, arborist, landscape designer or other experienced professional to determine which specific cultivars will work the best in your location and why.

 It is very important to plant the right tree in the right place, not only for safety reasons but efficiency as well.  Deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves in the winter) are best planted on the west or southwest side.  There they will provide shade in the summer, helping to cool buildings.  In the winter, the bare branches of these trees will let sunshine through to provide warmth.  Evergreens planted on the North and West can help shield outside walls from winds in the winter.  This can reduce your heating costs.

 Placing low-growing trees under or near power lines will not only help beautify your property, but also help prevent service problems in the future.  Any tree that matures at 20 feet in height or less in its natural form (small sized trees) can be planted near power lines.  These trees should be planted 25 feet away from power poles.  Small tree examples include flowering dogwood, redbud, snowdrift crabapple, Allegheny serviceberry, Washington hawthorn, Newport plum, and dwarf fruit trees.

 Medium sized trees should be kept at least 40 feet away from power lines.  Medium sized trees include Sugar maple, Norway maple, Summerset maple, Autumn fantasy maple, Oak trees (keep trimmed).  Large trees should be kept at least 60 feet away from power lines: Pine (all kinds), Pin oak, Valley oak, Walnut, Sycamore (all types), and others.

 Your local power company can provide more information for you.  They can also be relied on to periodically prune or remove trees near power lines.  They prune only what is necessary for electric safety and reliability.