Tree Planting

With good care and stewardship, trees provide both aesthetic and economic benefits to the areas where they are planted.

We work to properly maintain and care for trees, educate customers about tree maintenance and support tree planting and care organizations.

Trees can cause outages, start fires and create other hazardous conditions if they grow too close to power lines. Every year, we invest millions of dollars to locate, prune and remove potential problem trees in our service area to provide safe and reliable electric service.

Tips for planting
To reduce the need for future pruning, be sure you choose an appropriate tree for the space (especially around power lines). Some things to keep in mind as you're planting:

Low-growing trees (under 25 feet when mature) may be planted adjacent to overhead power lines.
Plant tall-growing trees (over 25 feet when mature) at least 25 feet away from overhead power lines.
Trees that grow taller than 35 feet when mature should be planted 50 feet away from overhead lines.
Plant trees and shrubs at least 10 feet away from ground-mounted transformers.
Locate underground utilities before you plant. Find the number of the free location service in your state.

For more information about what types of trees to plant near power lines, you can place an order for our free Small Trees for Small Places book or download a copy (1 MB).

Planting trees for energy efficiency
Planting trees in certain places around your home can help keep you comfortable and keep your energy costs down. Here are some ways to plant trees and save:

Plant deciduous trees facing southeast and southwest for summer shade and winter sun.
Shrubs and small trees can be placed to shade air conditioners and heat pumps. However, be careful not to plant too close to the unit, blocking air flow. Keep units free of leaves and needles.
Plant a combination of evergreen trees and shrubs on the side of your home that blocks cold winter winds.

Safety matters
When working outside with antennas, ladders and long-handled tools, remember to always look up to see if power lines are near. Never trim limbs or remove trees around power lines, and do not climb utility poles or trees near power lines for any reason. See more information on electrical safety .