Trees You Can Grow Under Power Lines

By Kelly Miller

Power lines and tall trees aren’t a good combination. Trees you can grow under power lines are those that reach mature heights of around 15 feet (4.5 m) or shorter.  Taller trees are at risk for heavy pruning or removal if your local power company determines that an electrical hazard is present.

Investing years of care into a tree only to see it removed over safety concerns is a sad result. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence. Power companies err on the side of caution, and don’t always hire professional arborists to carefully trim and protect trees. A tree may be badly damaged or entirely removed if it presents even the slim possibility of interfering with electrical infrastructure. To avoid this fate, plan ahead by selecting tall shrubs and small trees you can grow under power lines.

Trees and Power Lines: Preventing Electrical Hazards

Common hazards involving trees and power lines include:

• Falling trees or branches knock down wires and cause power outages.
• Branches that contact live wires can cause fires or electrocution.
• Trees growing around poles and wires get in the way of work crews doing repair work.

It’s estimated that tree damage causes over 40% of all storm-related power outages in the United States. Thus, it’s no surprise that power companies often deal with the problem aggressively, by trimming or cutting down any tree that poses a current or future hazard.

To prevent electrical safety hazards and avoid tree loss, best practices include:

• Check your local municipal code for tree restrictions near roads or wires.
• Ask your power company for resources or recommendations for tree planting.
• Near wires and poles, only plant trees that will reach mature heights of 15 feet (4.5 m) or shorter.
• Plant taller trees at least 20 feet (6 m) from power lines.
• Plant trees at least 10 feet (3 m) from any ground-based power transformers.
• If the ground has buried power or sewer lines, plant trees at a distance equal to the mature height of the tree (if the tree will grow 20 feet tall, expect its roots to expand just as far).

How to Choose Tree Species for Growing Near Power Lines

Before planting a tree anywhere near a power line, consider these factors to be sure your choice is among trees you can grow under power lines:

• Current and mature height: how tall the tree is now and how tall it will be at maturity.
• Rate of growth: how quickly the tree will grow to its mature height.

How Tall is Too Tall When Planting near Power Lines

The larger a tree will eventually grow, the further it should be planted from power lines.

Healthy young trees typically grow around 1–3 feet (0.3–0.9 m) annually. However, this varies widely, so it’s important to know your tree’s expected growth rate (here’s a list of growing speeds for 45 common trees).

For trees near wires, problems begin at heights of around 15 feet (4.5 m). That’s the standard minimum height for power lines. If you plant a tree with a current height of 5 feet (1.5 m), a growth rate of 2 feet (0.6 m) per year, and a tall mature height, the tree might make contact with the power line in just five years.

Choosing trees with slow growth rates, or regularly pruning to control height, can delay or prevent issues with power lines. However, when it comes to trees you can grow under powerlines, the best strategy is to stick with tall shrubs or short trees that won’t grow tall enough to create safety hazards.

Best Trees and Shrubs for Growing Near Power Lines

The following are good choices for trees you can grow under power lines. These species provide full, attractive growth but don’t rapidly reach problematic heights.

Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

The pagoda dogwood is a graceful small tree with lovely, deeply veined foliage, clusters of small white flowers in spring, and dark bluish-black berries in summer. The fruits are a welcome treat for birds. This tree has a distinctly horizontal branching habit that gives it a sculptural effect in the landscape.

Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis texensis)

Heat tolerant, multi-stemmed tree is smaller than Eastern Redbud. Reddish-pink flowers appear before the leaves emerge in spring. Thick, leathery, heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in autumn. Plant near a patio or window where the seasonal changes can be appreciated up close.

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)

A magnificent display of lovely star-shaped, fragrant white flowers appear in early spring even before the leaves emerge. The scented blooms are a treat for the senses after the dull days of winter. An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant. Plant near walkways, decks and patios where the scent can be enjoyed!

Ornamental Flowering Cherry, Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)

The season spanning beauty of flowering cherry starts with a burst of spring blooms amongst red-bronze foliage. The leaves mature to green taking on hues of yellow, orange and red in autumn. Cherry-like fruit and attractive bark provide winter interest. Beautiful grouped or massed in a shrub border.

Hawthorn (Crataegus species )

Hawthorn is a charming small deciduous tree or large shrub with decorative cut foliage and outstanding autumn color. This is a fine choice for the landscape with its excellent combination of flowers, fruits, and ornamental foliage! Hawthorns’ clusters of small berries are a favorite of wildlife, but not tolerable to the human stomach. Available in both tree and hedging forms. Makes a lovely feature plant for a small space.

Crabapple (Malus species)

Crabapples are perfect for adding year round structure and interest to the landscape. Softly colored, lightly scented spring blooms are followed by small, attractive fruits in summer. Often the fruits persist, providing a compliment to autumn’s foliage and bright contrast to winter’s snow.

Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)

Japanese tree lilac is a beautiful small tree crowned with lush foliage and bejeweled with long clusters of white blooms in summer. A very hardy species that requires little pruning. Attractive, reddish brown bark adds winter interest. Sometimes grown in shrub form. Plant near walkways, decks and patios where scent can be enjoyed.

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Japanese maples are great trees for small gardens, or as a large shrub for broad spaces. Brilliant autumn foliage is an added feature. A classic favorite for landscape focal points or a specimen plant. Provides shade and color to landscapes.

Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)

Amur maple is an extremely hardy, versatile and low maintenance tree or shrub that was introduced to North America from northern Asia in the late 1800s.  This is a charming small tree with glossy green leaves that change to lovely shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall. Flowers are produced in spring followed by winged seeds. The rounded habit amur maple can be manipulated with pruning to maintain the desired shape and size. 

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Making the Most Out of Limited Space

On small properties, especially ones bordered by power lines, tree planting options are limited. Sometimes, the best (or only) option is to plant a single tree in the dead center of the lawn. Or, it may be advisable to stick with tall shrubs, rather than trees. Some flowering shrubs grow large enough to serve as colorful focal points, but don’t exceed 15 feet (4.5 m) of height.

While most gardeners would love to have unlimited space to work with, few are so lucky. Find more ideas for putting a small yard to good use in our small space gardening guide.