Trimming Trees Near Power Lines

Tree Pruning in Finksburg, MD

It’s not at all uncommon for trees to grow in such a way that they begin to interfere with the path of power lines. When this happens, there are some specific regulations that apply to the way those trees can be trimmed, because the tree trimmers must take extra safety precautions to avoid electrocution or damaging utility lines. These regulations don’t just exist in federal and state law, but also in many power company policies.

A good company that will do tree pruning in Finksburg, MD will generally trim trees near power lines for two primary reasons:

  • To ensure the safety of everyone in the area: Trees do conduct electricity, which means there are some potentially significant safety hazards that are present when their branches grow close to power lines. Trimming those branches back prevents the risk of electrical conductivity causing accidents and electrocution.
  • To ensure reliable utility service to local residents: Beyond the obvious safety concerns that come with trees growing up against power lines, there’s also the issue of utility service reliability to take into account. Branches that come into contact with utility lines could cause outages or fires, especially if the weather gets windy. Trimming tree branches helps to prevent these types of outages from occurring.

The processes associated with trimming trees near wires

Our tree service is often called in to either trim or remove trees that are getting too close to power lines, whether they’re running from an electrical pole to a home or business or in between poles. Exactly how much of the tree gets trimmed depends on a variety of factors, including the growth rate of the tree, where the tree is located, the kinds of trimming practices that have previously been used on the tree and the types of watering methods in place for the tree.

Keep in mind that it is good for many types of trees to be trimmed on a semi-regular basis. While trimming for the purposes of electrical wires might not result in as good of an appearance for the tree as just letting it grow, you can be sure that bringing in a team of experienced professionals to get the trimming done will keep the tree healthy and safe for years to come. You do not have to sacrifice the health of your tree simply due to power line interference.

Once the tree has been trimmed or removed, we’ll turn the debris into chips that can be used for mulch and other purposes. This helps to decrease the amount of waste that might otherwise be put into landfills and just take up space.

If you’re keeping potential tree and power line safety in mind, you can always plant trees that are power line friendly. If you know what a tree will look like once it’s mature, you can get a better sense of whether or not it will end up interfering with the power lines in your area. For more information about trimming and planting trees, or to schedule tree cutting services in Finksburg, MD, we encourage you to reach out to Stabler Tree & Crane Services today.

Posted in Tree Cutting