Tree ideas for woods under/near power lines

9 years ago

Hello!
We live on a pie-shaped property that has power lines and a full (or used to be full) woods surrounding it along the back curved property line.
We just had tree trimmers for the electric company come through and have literally cut down about 25 (half or so) of the trees as they were either infected emerald ash, dying/dead box elder, or healthy ones that grew into the wires. Our yard frankly looks horrible as we've lost the woods and all you can see is power lines now!
The workers suggested planting bushes (not joking), but we are frankly looking for trees that we can plant relatively close the lines to hide them and will be very fast growing, hopefully without being too weak and breaking after 10 or 15 years.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Featured Answer

davidrt28 (zone 7)

9 years ago

I don't know if they are hardy in that borderline tundra zone but I was just noticing how the deciduous hollies are apparent if you know where to look for them, and they all seem to stop growing taller at around 6-8 ft. Also was noticing how many hideous power line cuts you see in rural areas. Really, the power companies would do us a favor by exercising their easement much earlier in the process, by _prohibiting_ people from planting idiotic choices under them. It would save us all money in the long run by reducing the cost of transmission. But that will never happen because - well - we can't have efficient governance in this country, apparently.

Comments (8)

edlincoln
9 years ago
The trick is anything fast growing will likely hit the power lines pretty soon, and will likely have weak wood.

Sounds like you want a tree that tolerates aggressive
pruning (so you can hack it up to keep it away from the power lines) and is disease resistant.

If you plant something that suckers, then when you cut down one that interferes with the power lines it will throw up new trucks.

What about Paw Paw? Disease resistant and suckers.
Sassafras albidum? Also suckers and has interesting leaves.

Black Gum is supposed to have extra strong wood and be resistant to fallen branches.

Look at the trees already there. What seems to be doing well, and looks good to you?

Help us narrow down your choices.
What is your soil like? Sandy, clay, swampy, salty, acidic? Is wind a problem? Deer?
What diseases are a problem around there?

What do you want out of these trees? Edible fruit, wildlife interest, winter interest?

This post was edited by edlincoln on Fri, Dec 12, 14 at 17:48
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
any tree that has the potential to grow taller than the lines... should most likely not be planted within 30 to 50 feet of the lines ...

no tree stops growing at some magical height ...

and as noted.. the faster it grows... the faster it will get in the lines ...

giving us a pic.. would sure get you some advice you can act on.instead of wild speculation ...

most likely .... the sight block you are wanting.. has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH PLANTING UNDER OR NEAR THOSE LINES ...

i might be able to explain that ... with some pix ...

you need to change your mind set ... you have been given an opportunity to do something new... and it did not cost you multiple thousands of dollars to get rid of a bunch on no good useless trees ...

try hard.. not to plant a series of more useless fast growing weed trees ...

ken
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There are a few pieces of information that would really help. The first is: how high are the lines? You really, really want to pick something that will not get near the lines, since the power company will come over and deal with anything that gets close - in a way that will not make you happy. Second, for privacy, how much height do you need? Are there 2nd story windows overlooking your yard that you'd like to block, or just people occasionally and inadvertently peeking over the top of the fence? The best way to determine the height you need is to send friend or spouse out there to walk along the line where you intend to plant, holding a 2 x 4 upright. If the 2x4 is 10' tall, you use that to judge what 20' would do for you, vs whether 15' would work. If you want to make this really accurate, you can take a notebook with you, and every time your helper moves you move 3 or 4 times, so you get a matrix showing how much height gives you line-of-sight blocking in the different parts of your yard where you particularly want privacy. The maples may be growing right next to the fence; don't try to grow anything else closer than about 5', or about the height of the fence. I learned this the hard, slow way, after trying several different screening plants along a stockade fence; they were all planted to close to the fence and none of them did well. It cost me several years o waiting for things to fill in, and if I'd started out 20 years ago placing my first row of narrow junipers correctly, I'd probably have had a nice screen for about 15 years ow, instead of STILL being at a stage of waiting for things to fill in. Oops! Last question: do you think evergreen screening is important, or will you be satisfied with seasonal leaves? There are some shrubby deciduous trees that are pretty effective even when out of leaf, others (like magnolia virginiana) that give no privacy at all after the leaves fall.
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corkball
9 years ago
There are a number of shrubs that will actually get fairly large such as lilac. Without even a tree form, they can get 20' high. You could also try serviceberry, amur maple (grows fairly fast but will start falling apart as it gets bigger), various dogwoods, viburnum, hazelnut, honeysuckle, redbud, or some of the star magnolias. Most of these are also very ornamental (flowers or foliage) as a plus.

But to the other posters' points, many of the better suited plants do not grow very fast.
basic
9 years ago
This brochure has some useful information.

Here is a link that might be useful: trees under power lines
davidrt28 (zone 7)
9 years ago
" But that will never happen because - well - we can't have efficient governance in this country, apparently."

Or aesthetically pleasing use of plants in residential settings, either.
poaky1
9 years ago
I am going to guess that the power lines are in the front Yard? If you have no power lines in the back, make your back yard where you put the desired shade trees. If you have all power lines in back, side, front, I would freakin cry and put the plot up for sale ASAP. My opinion. I actually inherited a plot of land like that. Very small little plot, power lines across the front yard. The back yard had a septic tank, and city sewer line both. In either case no big tree should be planted there. The front yard had a Colorado Blue spruce there taking up plenty of room. Well, I rejected that land. But, if you aren't a tree nut like me, and don't want to move cause you can't have a forest for a yard, plant some trees that can take the space you have alotted for a few trees. The Thornless Honey locust don't get that huge, and other peeps will add more ideas. If you have no power lines in the back yard, you can plant whatever you want. Good luck, Poaky1
krnuttle
9 years ago
You say power lines but you do not say what kind of power lines.

Are we talking about the ones that carry thousand volt on the metal giants that walk across the landscape or are we talking about the kind that service local home and additions that are usually on wooden poles.

It makes a significant difference in what you can do. If the lines are high voltage you may get away with planting things like lilacs that grow to a maximum of 20 to 30', if the power lines are the low voltage lines on wooden poles then you will have to live with plantings that screen the lines and are planted 30 to 40 feet from the poles.

Need more information.

Tree ideas for woods under/near power lines

davidrt28 (zone 7)

Comments (8)

edlincoln

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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