What’s the best way to prune trees?

As a property owner, you’re responsible for trees that interfere with service lines that run from a transformer pole to your home. But we’ll be happy to lower your service line to allow your tree contractor to prune and remove foliage, and then reinstall service at no charge.

A good rule of thumb is to look at the tree’s label to find its mature height, then plant it that same distance away from power lines and equipment. When you find the spot where you’d like to plant the tree, look up to see if there are any power lines or equipment overhead. And be sure to call 811 before you dig to ensure you don’t hit buried utility lines. An EPB Energy Pro can also offer advice on where, when and how to plant different varieties of trees and shrubs properly, and safely. If you’d like a free consultation with an EPB Energy Pro Arborist, please submit a request.

After you’ve found the spot where you’d like to plant, it’s best to do two simple things before you start digging. First, look up for any overhead power lines. You never want to plant directly under overhead power lines. And second, call 811 to find out if there are any utility lines buried underground. Both of these important steps could protect you from problems down the road.

Trees will be pruned a minimum clearance of 10 feet from power lines. Limbs may be pruned further from higher voltage lines. Limbs overhanging lines will be pruned as high as possible. We will also eliminate weak, diseased, and dead limbs above the wires that may fall or blow into the wires.

Our professionals, both on staff and contractors, have arboriculture certifications and extensive experience specific to the utilities industry. EPB contracts only with Certified Utility Arborists that meet strict specifications. These contractors follow the National Electric Safety Code and ANSI A-300 Guidelines as endorsed by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the International Society of Arboriculture.

During routine pruning and removal, trees are sawn into firewood lengths, however we don’t remove stumps. Brush and debris will be cleaned up and removed or made into mulch, which we can leave at the customer’s request, before the crew leaves the area. During a power outage, our primary responsibility is to restore power as quickly as possible. We do not typically remove brush, debris or trees that are knocked down by natural causes, even if we have to saw through the downed tree to repair the damaged line.

It's best to plant shrubs, bushes or vines at least 3’ to the side of, or 12’ in front of ground-mounted transformer boxes. And never plant directly under power lines. Before you plant, look up for overhead power lines, and call 811 to ensure you won’t disrupt underground utility lines.

We coordinate the pruning of nearly 70,000 trees each year. Utilizing six foresters, 44 tree crews and 125 contract employees in the field, these expert Certified Utility Arborists carefully clear a path for power lines while maintaining a healthy, beautiful landscape. Plus, they work directly with customers to answer questions and address any issues well before work begins.

Yes. An EPB representative will come to your door a couple months before any tree pruning in your area takes place. If no one is home, we will leave a card with more information and a name and number you can call to ask any questions or get more information.

We no longer take orders for mulch delivery. However, if you see EPB tree crews working in your neighborhood, they may bring a load of mulch to you if there is adequate access for a big truck.

Yes. If you see foliage that could potentially interfere with your power service and would like to request a site survey, or you if have questions about your trees and would like an EPB Energy Pro Arborist to contact you, please submit a request.

If they are within 10 feet of high voltage lines and are capable of growing into power lines or equipment, the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) requires that EPB prune trees to their specific guidelines for your safety and service reliability.

The best times of year to plant are in the Fall after the leaves fall and early Spring before the buds break. The milder temperatures enable roots to get well-established before harsh weather sets in. Early Fall planting naturally results in earlier Spring blooming of flowering trees and plants. And, cool autumn weather helps eliminate pests such as weeds, diseases and insects that can hinder new growth.

You want to dig a shallow, broad planting hole about 2-3 times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball. Make sure you unwrap the plastic or burlap from the root ball and place the tree in the hole by the root ball, not the trunk. Fill it in slowly, but firmly. Pack the soil around the root ball to stabilize it. Watering periodically while backfilling will help eliminate any air pockets. Then you want to mulch the base of the tree about 2-3 inches deep. This helps retain moisture from rain and watering.

If you see foliage that could potentially interfere with your power service and would like to request a free site survey, or you if have questions about your trees and would like an EPB Energy Pro Arborist to contact you, please submit a request.

If you have a tree growing directly under power lines, we encourage you to let us remove it. We’ll cut the tree down, grind the smaller limbs, and cut the logs into fireplace lengths – all at no charge. If you see foliage that could potentially interfere with your power service and would like to request a free site survey, or you if have questions about your trees and would like an EPB Energy Pro Arborist to contact you, please submit a request.

Constantly! With thousands of miles of power lines across our service area, we must continually prune in order to keep up with tree growth. In fact, even with dozens of crews working every day, it still takes us 5-6 years to complete a single pruning cycle. Therefore, we must prune tree limbs back far enough so they don’t grow into power lines before we have an opportunity to return to your area. If you see a paint mark on your tree or received a notification of upcoming pruning, the work will be performed in the next few months.