Friendly Power
Trees beautify homes and property, and can lower utility bills if correctly sited. But care should be taken with trees near power lines. Every year power outages are caused by storms that bring trees or limbs down on lines. Restoring power is expensive, as is trimming trees to prevent these outages.
You can help by taking a "power friendly" approach in landscaping your property. Choose the right tree, plant it in the right place, and maintain it. It's easy, with just a few simple guidelines.
Select the Right Tree
When planting near power lines, choose trees that will grow no higher than 25 feet at maturity. A uggested
list is available on request. Power-friendly trees give you the options for spring and fall color, tree shape, size and fruit.
Ask your local nursery or garden center for help in selecting trees. They may have further suggestions
for your climate and landscaping.
Check Before You Dig
Power lines not only run overhead, but underground like gas, water, telephone and cable. Check with us
before you dig. Root structures can grow and damage underground lines, or create problems if line
repairs are necessary. Always contact the Oregon Utility Notification Center (One Call), 48 hours before you dig: call 1-800-332-2344.
Plant in the Right Place
Avoid planting directly under power lines. Within 30 feet of power lines, plant trees that will grow no higher than 25 feet.
Larger trees should be planted 30 feet or more away from lines. Look at power lines to your house as well as the main line along the street or right of way.
Plant leaf-bearing trees to the east and west of your home to reduce summer cooling costs, while admitting winter sunlight from the south. Site evergreens and shrubs where they will block cold winter winds.
Keep Trees Hazard-Free
Inspect your trees carefully each year and during all seasons. Look for dead limbs, forked trunks, signs of decay, wounds and cracks, leaning or lopsided trees, and branches rowing near or into power lines. Dead or diseased trees should be removed or replaced.
Consult our certified arborist, Dave Alsen, if you are unsure of what to do to keep your trees hazard-free. Prune trees when they are young, and then on a regular basis thereafter.
