Trees and power lines: A bad idea?

Short trees growing under primary power lines — Short trees growing under power lines in Northeast Portland. (FOT file)

By Brighton West

Someone recently asked why Friends of Trees planted trees under power lines, implying that it was a bad idea. Not so if you follow the rule “Right Tree in the Right Place.”

Trees have different types of growing habits. We know that Doug-Firs have a strong central leader (the main trunk goes straight up), Accolade Elms don’t (their branches all spread out and create a vase shape), and Prairiefire Crabapples only grow about 20 feet tall.

Knowing these characteristics, we can select a tree that doesn’t grow tall enough to interfere with primary power lines—and thus won’t need to be pruned by the power company.

I don’t know of many people who like to look at overhead wires, so selecting a low-growing tree to grow underneath the primary lines can be a good way to screen these lines from eye level. And if the lines aren’t primary power lines, a tall-growing tree could be the most effective—but more about that in my next blog post.

Coming next Monday: Trees and Powerlines: When is it OK to plant a tall tree under power lines?

West is the programs director at Friends of Trees: [email protected]; 503-282-8846 ext. 19