Tree Planting Guidelines

Helpful Tips for Planting Trees or Shrubs by Power Lines

If you can, try not to plant trees close to power lines.  If you must, please consider these planting guidelines.

  • Call 811 to have lines marked to see if you have underground lines by your property before planting trees. (
    • Trees planted too close to underground lines can suffer root damage
    • Trees planted too close to overhead lines may need to be pruned, or even removed by the utility as deemed necessary.
  • Recommended mature height of trees near overhead power lines is 15-20 feet tall.
  • For both Overhead and Underground power lines, if a tree is expected to grow:
    • 20 feet high or less, than it should be planted at least 10 feet away from utility poles and power lines.
    • 20-39 feet high, than those trees should be planted at least 25-35 feet away from utility poles and power lines.
    • 40 feet high or more, that type of tree should be planted at least 50-60 feet away from utility poles and power lines.

List of Recommended small trees or large shrubs

  • Amur Maple
  • Apple Serviceberry
  • Eastern Redbud
  • Smoke Tree
  • Dogwood
  • Magnolia
  • Japanese Tree Lilac
  • Dwarf Crabapple
  • American Hornbeam
  • Chokecherry
  • Snow Fountain Cherry
  • Arborvitae
  • Dwarf Upright Juniper
  • Dwarf Spruce
  • Dwarf Pine
  • Witch Hazel
  • Staghorn Sumac
  • Burning Bush
  • Forsythia
  • Lilac
  • Viburnum
  • Weeping Pea Shrub