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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
