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Table 1: Planting trees within 40 feet of wires or street lights

PLANTING TREES WITHIN 40 FEET OF WIRES OR STREET LIGHTS

IF:
planting hole is this distance from wire/light    

AND IF:
you would like to train a tall tree over the wire/light*

AND IF:
you would like to keep branches away from wire/lights

 

 THEN:
Pick trees with these characteristics
0 - 6 feet not recommended  
6 - 18 feet expected height at least twice wire/light height mature height about 10 feet less than wire/light height
18 - 40 feet not recommended mature height about 10 feet less than wire/light height, or mature canopy spread about 10 feet less than twice the distance to the wire/light
more than 40 feet ---------------- any tree can be planted -----------------
* If this is the intention, be sure all interested parties are made aware of the plans, including the utility company, urban forester, tree pruning contractor, property owner, and so on. This is a maintenance-intensive strategy, and may not be suited for cities that receive ice storms.