Do my trees have to be pruned?

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.

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.

Our arborists use lateral pruning methods; cutting tree branches back to the lateral or parent limb. Lateral pruning is healthier for trees because it helps allow the tree's natural defenses to seal the cut and prevent the spread of disease or decay. In addition, we use directional pruning that redirects the growth of the tree away from power lines. These popular pruning methods were developed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and approved by the National Arborist Association, the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Metro Tree Ordinance.

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.

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.

We suggest hiring a reputable local tree service to perform any pruning. It’s dangerous work and they know all of the safety protocols and can help maintain the health of your trees while making sure they stay beautiful. We’ll be glad to suggest a good local tree service. Just give us a call at 423-648-1372 to schedule a free consultation.

We only prune trees that pose a potential hazard to primary power lines. These are typically the highest (and sometimes also the second-highest) lines on a pole. We also prune trees and other vegetation to maintain EPB Fiber Optics lines, and the existing right-of-way. We prune all weak, damaged or dead limbs that hang above conductors. Pruning exceptions include low-growing trees (dogwoods, redbuds, ornamentals) and landscape quality trees less than 6 inches in diameter.

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. 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.

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.

Protecting a tree from becoming burned or entangled in power lines is actually for the health of the tree in the long run. This, of course, also helps prevent power outages caused by falling trees and branches. In addition, and most important, vines and trees touching lines can be hazardous. We always trim in ways that redirect new growth away from power lines. We trim only enough of a tree to prevent power lines and the public from being endangered. It's possible to prune a tree into various shapes when you prune correctly based on the tree's age and species, and a tree can remain healthy and safe for many years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.