Purdue
University
Consumer Horticulture
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
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Purdue
University
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Released 15 February 2001
by B. Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist
The conflict between trees and utility lines is fresh on my mind,
having just experienced the power company removing a significant
number of limbs from two lovely old pine trees in the right-of-way
behind my property. And I'm in good company with many homeowners who
have experienced either the loss of a tree or a significant portion
of a tree due to the need to keep the limbs from taking out power to
the neighborhood.
I can certainly understand both sides of the issue. I hate to see the symmetry of a beautiful old tree destroyed in minutes by a chain saw, but yet, I certainly don't want my power supply to be hindered. In this particular case, the pine trees were already way above the lines when I bought my home, so there's no sentimental value attached. But for many homeowners, some of these trees might be planted in someone's memory or be where their children played happily during an earlier time.
The bad news is that it is not uncommon for large species of trees to be inappropriately planted near utility lines. They were pretty small when they were planted, and perhaps it was never even imagined that these little saplings would eventually tower and spread to connect with those power lines. Sadly, the only options for these trees are either repeated prunings that may leave them disfigured or complete removal of the tree.
The good news is that you do not need to remain completely treeless near utility lines. There are a number of reliable tree species that remain small enough that they should not pose a threat, even when they are mature.
Whether planning to replace an existing tree or starting from scratch, the following list of species will give you plenty of options to chose from at your local nursery or garden center. These species are generally less than 20 feet tall at maturity. Keep in mind that some utility lines are only 12 feet high, such as those that connect directly to a home. Avoid planting directly below utility lines; maintain a distance of at least 10 feet.
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
| Amur Maple |
Acer ginnala |
| Japanese Maple* |
Acer palmatum |
| Tartarian Maple |
Acer tataricum |
| Red Buckeye |
Aesculus pavia |
| Serviceberry* |
Amelanchier sp. |
| Siberian Peashrub |
Caragana arborescens |
| White Fringetree |
Chionanthus virginicus |
| Flowering Dogwood |
Cornus florida |
| Filbert (Hazelnut) |
Corylus sp. |
| Smoketree |
Cotinus coggygeria |
| English Hawthorn |
Crataegus laevigata |
| Burning Bush |
Euonymus alatus |
| Yeddo Euonymus |
Euonymus hamiltonianus var. sieboldianus |
| Franklinia |
Franklinia alatamaha |
| Goldenchain Tree |
Laburnum x waterei |
| Star Magnolia |
Magnolia stellata |
| Crabapple* |
Malus sp. |
| Cherry Plum* (Pissard or Purpleleaf Plum) |
Prunus cerasifera |
| Higan Cherry * |
Prunus subhirtella |
| Japanese Flowering Cherry |
Prunus serrulata |
| Wafer Ash |
Ptelea trifoliata |
| Goat Willow |
Salix caprea |
| Stewartia |
Stewartia ovata |
| Arborvitae* |
Thuja sp. |
| Blackhaw Viburnum |
Viburnum prunifolium |
| Siebold Viburnum |
Viburnum sieboldii |
* Select short cultivars of these species
Last updated: 6 April 2006
For questions concerning this page, send a message to homehort@purdue.edu
The URL for this page is http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/trees_utilities.html