University of Florida

Overhead lights and wires in the canopy

overhead wiresLights and wires often interfere with tree canopies as a result of poor planning. It is difficult to find examples of this occurring where the site was well designed. Sites can be designed to avoid this type of malpractice. See: details on appropriate site design.

Lights can be lowered so they shine under the canopy to allow the tree canopy to develop as envisioned in the original site plan. As a last resort, trees can be pruned to grow around wires and lights, but training should begin when the tree is young. Else, the tree will become deformed as arborists attempt to guide the canopies away from lights and wires. See: more on pruning.