Tree Maintenance Guide. Tips on Proper Tree Selection, Planting, and Pruning

Transcription

1 Tree Maintenance Guide Tips on Proper Tree Selection, Planting, and Pruning

2 To Our Customers, We re fortunate to live in an area where trees enhance our surroundings. In addition to heightening the aesthetic beauty of our homes, neighborhoods, and even entire communities, trees purify the air we breathe, reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer, and provide windbreaks for cold winds in the winter. Those same trees, however, can also threaten public safety or cause electric service problems for you and your neighbors. You may not know it, but interference from tree limbs is the single leading cause of power outages in our service territory. To strike a healthy balance between our appreciation for trees and our obligation to provide safe, trouble-free electric service, we at O&R have been working with individual property owners as well as local government officials or the municipal Shade Tree Commission for many years. Through our ongoing tree maintenance program, our experienced tree trimming contractors use the utmost care to minimize wounds and stress to trees and redirect growth away from nearby power lines. However, because improved electric service reliability really begins with proper landscaping, we re equally committed to working with you in selecting, planting, pruning, and caring for the trees on your property. With proper planning, we can work together to avoid many potential problems so we can all enjoy the beauty of trees along with safe, reliable electric service. We hope you find this brochure helpful and informative, and we invite you to be our partner in selecting, planting, and caring for trees that are compatible with power lines. Sincerely, Mark J. Beamish System Arborist Vegetation Management Department Table of Contents Right Tree, Right Place 1 Selecting Healthy Trees 2 Plan Before You Plant 3 Everything in its Proper Place 4 A Word About Safety 5 Be Aware of Pad-Mounted Transformers 5 Call Before You Dig 5 Proper Planting Tips 6 When to Plant 6 Planting Trees Bare-Root Tree 7 Containerized Tree 7 Ball-and-Burlap Tree 8 Proper Care of Trees Watering 9 Mulching 9 Where Roots Really Grow 9 Proper Pruning 10 Compatible Species List Low-Height Trees 12 Medium-Height Trees 13 Tall-Height Trees 14 Transmission Rights-of-Way Compatible Trees 15 Compatible Scrubs 16

3 Right Tree, Right Place When it comes to trees, it s important to pick the right tree for the right place. For trees to thrive and survive, you should know why and where you re planting. Before you shop at your local nursery you may want to answer the following questions. They re meant to help you evaluate your needs and clarify what you want so you can plant the right tree at the right site. Reasons for planting For shade? To block or enhance view? For fruit, flowers, or fall colors? For energy efficiency? Planting for tomorrow How large will the tree be at maturity? Will it still answer your needs and fit your landscape when it s full grown? Tree shape Will the shape of the mature tree enhance or detract from your landscape scheme? Characteristics Will the tree survive local soil and climate? Is it suitable for a sunny, shady, wet, or dry location? Value Will the tree add to or detract from the value of your property today and at maturity? Maintenance Will the tree require frequent spraying? Will you need to clean up messy fruits and seeds? Will it drop a lot of leaves you won t want to rake in the fall? Insects and disease Is the tree susceptible to disease and insects? Strength Will the tree be strong enough to bear snow and ice without breaking? Will it have a shallow or deep root system? Surroundings Will the tree cast unwanted shade on your garden? Are there overhead or underground restrictions? Will it block a neighbor s view or obscure road signs and traffic signals? Local ordinances Are there ordinances controlling where you plant as well as what you plant? Pyramid Round Vase Oval Spreading Layered Columnar Weeping Tree Maintenance Guide 1

4 Selecting Healthy Trees Once you ve decided the type of tree you want and where to plant it, the next step is to purchase a specimen that is healthy. When shopping for a tree, look for one with balanced proportions. For example, the largest tree in a nursery may have a top that s out of balance with its root system. The tree may have been growing in the container for too long and may be root-bound with roots that are densely matted or circling around the outside and bottom of the container. Once planted, this tree may be slow to become established. Conversely, the smallest tree in a nursery may be stunted from lack of water or nutrients. In addition to choosing a tree with balanced proportions, you may want to use the following guidelines when making a purchase: Check for a root system that s free of defects. Don't select a tree that has circling roots, called girdling roots, on the top of the container, or roots that are crowded or crushed. Look for a tree with a well-developed trunk and lower branches. Avoid purchasing a tree with a damaged or deformed trunk, or that has broken branches (although you may have to remove lower branches for clearance). 2 Select a tree that exhibits vigorous growth. Watch out for pale or yellowing foliage. Choose a tree that s free of insects, pests, injury, and other signs of disease. Shop at a reputable nursery. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations, and always look for a guarantee from the nursery. Take a list of questions to the nursery, and make sure you ve thought out the details of where you want to plant. (Answering the questions in our checklist on page two would be a good start.)

5 Plan Before You Plant With literally hundreds of species of trees to choose from, it s no wonder that property owners are often at a loss as to what to plant. Not all trees are appropriate for all settings. For that matter, there are no good or bad trees only trees that are either thoughtfully selected or poorly chosen for a particular site. Always remember that you re planting for tomorrow. That eight-foot tall tree may look perfect in your property today, but in 10 to 20 years, it may dominate much of your yard, overpower your house, clog your sewer, cause problems with power lines, and disrupt electric service for you and your community. Utility Clearance Area 15' 10' 10' 10' Tree Maintenance Guide 3

6 Everything in its Proper Place While trees and shrubs enhance and beautify our surroundings, they don t always go well with power lines. But with proper planning, many of the potential problems can be avoided so that you can enjoy trees along with safe, reliable electric service. To ensure service reliability, it s important to maintain safe clearances between trees and distribution lines on the street, as well as the service line from the street to your home. If tree branches rub against power lines, they may wear away the protective weather coating and cause service interruptions. Branches that touch power lines can become electrified and hazardous to anyone climbing the tree. In rainy or icy weather, trunks and lower tree limbs could also become electrified because water conducts electricity. During high winds, thunderstorms, and snow or ice storms, large trees and overhanging branches can fall and damage overhead electric lines, which could result in extended power outages affecting widespread areas. For all of these reasons, the first thing to consider when choosing a tree to plant below or beside a power line is the size. For instance, under power lines, choose short trees. A good rule of thumb is to select trees whose mature height is less than 20 feet. To help you plant the right tree in the right place, the last pages of this brochure list trees and shrubs compatible with our distribution and transmission lines. Use it as a handy guide when selecting greenery for your property. Here are some additional tips to help you plant the right tree in the right place: Consider both the underground and overhead space the tree will occupy. Make sure you provide adequate space for rooting, drainage, and oxygen so that your tree will develop properly. Remember that branches of trees planted too close to your home can cause expensive damage to your roof and siding, not to mention clog gutters with fallen leaves. In addition, don t forget that storms can cause limbs and even entire trees to fall onto houses and power lines, causing major damage and disrupting electric service. 4 Plan for adequate rooting space especially in paved areas. You don t want your tree to cause a cracked driveway or sidewalk. Besides being expensive to repair, cracked pavement is hazardous to pedestrians. Don t plant along important sight lines. Overhanging limbs can obscure streetlights, signs, and traffic signals, creating a hazard for motorists and pedestrians. Review your municipality s infrastructure to ensure that tree roots don t interfere with underground water, sewer, or natural gas lines and septic tanks.

7 A Word About Safety Planting or trimming a tree may seem easy enough. But working in your own backyard can lead to accident or injury if you re not careful. Here are some important health and safety tips you can t afford to leave behind when you work outdoors: If you re using a ladder or other garden tool, stay a good distance away from overhead power lines. Contact with an electric line could prove fatal. Stay away from trees with overhead electrical lines running through them. Never touch a tree limb that s in contact with a power line. Make sure children don t climb, build tree houses, or play in a tree near overhead electrical lines. If a kite gets tangled in power lines or in a tree branch near power lines, leave it alone rather than risk accident and injury. Be Aware of Pad-Mounted Transformers Pad-mounted transformers are three-foot-square, green, metal boxes containing equipment that supplies many neighborhoods with underground electric service. The safety rules to follow when working or planting around these boxes are: Don t try to conceal pad-mounted transformers with plants, trees, shrubs, or structures. Whether we need to perform maintenance or restore electric service, our crews must have unobstructed access to the equipment at all times. We are not responsible for replacing or restoring landscaping that hinders access to our equipment. Trees, shrubs, and structures should be placed at least 10 feet from the front opening of a pad-mounted transformer and three feet from the remaining three sides. Don t change the ground levels around a pad-mounted transformer When planting or building near this equipment, be aware that high-voltage, underground wires are connected to each pad-mounted transformer. If you or a 3' 3' 3' Pad-Mounted Transformer Service Area Zone 10' contractor dig in the wrong spot, you run the risk of serious accident or injury. Call Before You Dig Before you take out that shovel to plant a tree, make sure you re clear of all underground utility lines running through your property. If your shovel, tiller, or backhoe strikes an underground electric cable or natural gas pipeline, you run the risk of serious accident, injury, or costly property damage. Before you dig, dial 811, the toll-free number of your state utility notification service. The service will contact member utilities who will mark the location of underground facilities for you at no charge. Call at least two to10 days in advance. Tree Maintenance Guide 5

8 Proper Planting Tips Local weather and soil conditions, the size and shape of the tree, as well as planting location are factors to consider when planting a tree. Regardless of the specifics, the following tips should help ensure proper planting: Plant only as deep as the root ball of the tree. Make your planting hole twice as wide as the root ball. Brace the tree only if it will not remain upright in a moderate wind. Don t stake or brace the tree too tightly. Allow the tree to sway gently to develop trunk taper, which is important to growing a strong, mature tree. Brace with materials that will not injure the bark. You can purchase bracing material from the nursery, or you can use wire covered with hose. Remove bracing materials after one year. Mulch adequately to insulate the soil, retain moisture, block weeds, and add an aesthetic touch to a yard or street. Keep the soil moist, but don t waterlog. Remove dead and dying branches from the tree. Wait until the second growing season before fertilizing and shaping. When to Plant 6 Early to mid-spring and early to mid-fall are the best times to plant most trees. Because temperatures are generally moderate during these months there is less chance for the tree to be stressed by extreme heat or cold. Additionally, the tree can use the rainfall during the next season to establish its root system.

9 Planting Trees Bare-Root Trees If you purchase a bare-root tree, it s best to plant it immediately to keep fragile roots from drying out. If weather or soil conditions prevent you from planting, store the tree in a cool place and keep the roots moist. Containerized Trees If a tree is planted correctly, it will grow twice as fast and live at least twice as long as one that is planted incorrectly. Ideally, the hole you dig should have sloped sides, be bigger than twice the diameter of the ball, and no deeper than the depth of the root ball. Remember that tilled soil encourages root growth beyond the root ball and makes for a healthier tree Dug or rototilled area Sloping sides 2 to 5 times diameter of root ball Tree Maintenance Guide 7

10 8 Planting Trees Continued Ball-and-Burlap Trees Street Tree Planting Detail Recommended Techniques and Procedures Guy Attachments Hose loop is double the trunk diameter and guys not taut. Remove after 1½ years. 2"x 2" Hardwood Stakes May be left to provide physical protection to the tree trunk and bark. The top of the tree ball should be slightly higher than the surrounding finish grade. 2 4" of Woody Mulch Aged wood chips, shredded bark, or similar mulch. Never mound mulch at tree trunk. Water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets, settling, and to soak the ball and the surrounding soil. Soil Mixture Four parts by volume of topsoil mixed with one part decomposed organic materials; firm soil around ball; do not tamp. Expand beyond planting pit as shown when no topsoil is present. Single Straight Main Trunk to 7' Height Branches below may eventually require removal for height clearance. Branching Minimum clear stem height 5'. Remove lower branches in successive years to provide additional clearance for vehicles and people. Transit Trunk Guards Remove immediately after planting. Caliper Use 2"or greater. Diameter measured 8" above root fare. Cut and remove burlap from upper 1/3 of ball. Cut and remove all poly ties and burlap. Do not fertilize until late spring of the second year following planting. Fold Wire Baskets Cut top and fold down in the pit after positioning for back-fill planting. Planting base of undisturbed soil to support root ball and reduce settling. Be gentle with a new tree. Always pick up the tree by the root ball or container, never by the stem or trunk. Most trees don t require staking. If staking is required for protection or stability, use tree strapping or hose-covered wire. Leave a one-inch space between hose and all sides of trees. Remove after one year! The hole should be twice the diameter of the root ball with sloped sides, and no deeper than the depth of the root ball.

11 Proper Care of Trees With early care and special attention, a young tree will develop its unique character and enhance your property. The cost of caring for young trees is minimal. In fact, proper planting, watering, mulching, and pruning techniques are about the only requirements for trees to grow to maturity. Watering When it comes to watering trees, remember these three points: 1. Young trees require sufficient water until their roots are able to tap available groundwater. 2. Make every effort to water existing trees during periods of drought. 3. Water deeply and slowly. Mulching A tree s best friend, mulch performs many different functions: insulates soil retains moisture raises soil temperature keeps out weeds prevents soil compaction reduces lawn mower and string trimmer damage adds an aesthetic touch to a yard or street You ll want to remove any grass within the mulch area, which could be anywhere from three to 10 feet in diameter, depending on the size of the tree. Pour wood chips or bark pieces two to four inches deep within the circle, but not touching the tree. Keep mulch less than six inches deep. In the case of mulch, more isn t better. Where Roots Really Grow Understanding how and where roots grow will help you avoid damage from trenching and construction. Here are some facts to remember: Because roots need oxygen, they don t normally grow in the compacted oxygen-poor soil under paved streets. Roots often grow outward to a diameter of one to two times the height of the tree. Eighty-five percent of a tree s roots are located within eight to 24 inches of the surface. Tree Maintenance Guide 9

12 Proper Pruning Pruning is important to ensure the health of a tree, as well as to safeguard public safety and maintain visibility. By using the natural pruning method, you maintain the natural shape of a tree or shrub. To use this method you need to know two terms. The first term is branch bark ridge, the raised bar area between the limb and the parent stem, be it the remainder of the limb left or the tree trunk. The second term is branch collar, the enlarged area just outside of the branch bark ridge which is actually part of the tree trunk or parent limb. Whether you re pruning a small branch or removing a large limb, you ll want to identify these two areas so you make the proper pruning cut. To prune small branches, locate and identify the branch collar and, using the pruning diagram, make the final cut just outside the branch collar. Making the proper cut and avoiding damage to the branch collar will allow compartmentalization, a process that lets a tree set up internal zones of protection to inhibit spread of decay. Compartmentalization can only occur when the branch collar has not been damaged by stubbing or flush cutting. Since the branch collar is actually part of the tree trunk, cutting into or damaging the branch collar is harmful to the tree trunk and may cause long-term tree health problems. Natural Pruning Cut as close as possible to the branch collar. Do not injure or remove the collar. Make three cuts to remove large branches. Use care not to wound the trunk when pruning Branch bark ridge Branch collars 2 3 Second cut 1 First cut Final cut just ouside the branch collar The above diagram illustrates how and where to make proper pruning cuts for large limbs and small branches. 10 You may be tempted to do-it-yourself when it comes to pruning trees on your property. However, to ensure the long-term health of your investment, and because properly pruned trees require less frequent pruning, you may want to hire an experienced tree contractor to do the job.

13 Whatever your decision, here are some pruning practices to avoid. Don t top trees! Many arborists agree that topping, or pruning large upright branches between nodes (where branches meet other branches or the tree trunk), is one of the worst things you can do for the health of a tree. If you top a tree, ugly, weakly attached limbs will often grow back higher than the original branches. Topping can also lead to tree decay. Avoid tipping, or cutting lateral branches between nodes, to reduce crown width. Like topping, tipping is a practice that harms trees. It leads to unsightly sprouting and death of some cut branches. Large Limbs C B A A Make a partial cut from beneath. B Make a second cut from above and several inches out, and allow the limb to fall. C Complete the job with a final cut just outside the branch collar. Never remove more than a third of the tree s crown. Flush cutting to the tree trunk, ripping branches away from the tree, and stub cutting can harm trees by causing decay or by delaying or preventing proper healing. Small Branches Make a sharp, clean cut, just beyond a lateral bud or other branch. Don t apply tree paint or wound dressing to pruning cuts. Research indicates that they do not prevent decay or promote rapid wound closure. Correct cut Too close Too long There s a lot to learn when it comes to pruning trees. The diagram above should be helpful in showing you where to make proper pruning cuts. Tree Maintenance Guide 11

14 COMPATIBLE SPECIES LIST Low-Height Trees Trees less than 25 feet tall Plant 15 feet away from power lines 12 Shantung Maple Acer truncatum 20' 25' Amur Maple Acer ginnala 20' 25' Tatarian Maple Acer tataricum 18' 20' Globe Norway Maple Acer platanoides globosum 20' 25' Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 15' 20' White Fringe Tree Chionanthus virginincus 20' 25' Red Flowering Dogwood Cornus rubra 15' 25' White Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida 15' 25' Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa 15' 18' Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Cornus rnas 18' 20' Lavalle Hawthorn Crataegus lavallei 15' 25' Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crusgalli inermis 18' 20' Crimson Cloud English Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata superba 15' 20 Ohio Pioneer Dotted Hawthorn Crataegus punctata Ohio Pioneer 20' 25' Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis 20' 25' Upright Siberian Crabapple Malus baccata f. Columnaris 20' 25' Jackii Siberian Crabapple Malus baccata var. Jackii 20' 25' Rose Sargent s Crabapple Malus sergeantii rosea 10' 15' Snowdrift Crabapple Malus snowdrift 20' 25' Trinity Flowering Pear Pyrus calleryana Trinity 15' 20' Kwanzan Cherry Prunus serrulata Kwanzan 15' 25' Purple Leaf Flowering Plum Prunus cerasifera 15' 25' Japanese Tree Lilac Syringe amurense japonica 20' 25' NOTE: Not all trees listed here are suggested for street tree use. Situational and topographical conditions may not allow for selected species to be used in some locations. Consult your energy provider for planting limitations at your site. For additional small-tree species that mature at less than 25 feet in height contact your local nursery.

15 COMPATIBLE SPECIES LIST Continued Medium-Height Trees Trees up to 40 feet tall Plant 15 feet away from power lines Hedge Maple Acer campestre 20' 30' Crimson Sentry Maple Acer platanoides Crimson Sentry 30' 40' Armstrong Red Maple Acer rubrum Armstrong 35' 40' Goldenspire Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Goldenspire 35' 40' Downy Shadblow Amelanchier canadensis 30' 35' Apple Serviceberry Amelanchier X grandifolia 25' 35' Allegheny Serviceberry Amelanchier laevis 25' 35' Pyramidal American Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Pyramidalis 20' 40' European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Fastigiata 30' 40' American Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana 30' 40' Golden Rain Tree Koelreuteria paniculata 30' 40' Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana 35' 40' American Hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana 25' 40' Amur Corktree Phellodendron amurense 30' 40' Autumn Blaze Callery Pear Pyrus calleryana Autumn Blaze 35' 40' Chanticleer Callery Pear Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer 35' 40' Redspire Callery Pear Pyrus calleryana Redspire 30' 40' Spring Snow Crabapple Malus Spring Snow 25' 35' European Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia 25' 35' Washington Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum 25' 35' Imperial Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Impcole 30' 40' Columnar Sargent Cherry Prunus sargentii Columnaris 30' 40' Greenspire Little-leaf Linden Tilia cordata Greenspire 35' 40' NOTE: Not all trees listed here are suggested for street tree use. Situational and topographical conditions may not allow for selected species to be used in some locations. Trees coming in contact with overhead power lines cause the majority of electric service interruptions. When it becomes necessary to trim a tree, we make every effort to minimize the impact it will have on the appearance and health of the tree. Tree Maintenance Guide 13

16 COMPATIBLE SPECIES LIST Continued Tall-Height Trees Trees that grow up to 40 or more feet tall Plant 35 feet away from power lines Crimson King Norway Maple Acer platanoides Crimson King 35' 40' Parkway Norway Maple Acer platanoides Columnarbroad 40' 50' Autumn Flame Red Maple Acer rubrum Autumn Flame 50' 75' Green Mountain Sugar Maple Acer saccharum PNI ' 75' Heritage River Birch Betula nigra Heritage 40' 50' Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum 40' 60' Copper Beech Fagus sylvatica 50' 80' Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba PNI ' 80' Shademaster Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos PNI ' 70' Thornless Honey Locust Gleditsia triaccnthos var. Inermis 30' 60' European Larch Larix decidua 30' 60' Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides 65' 85' Black Tupel Nyssa sylvatica 40' 70' Pin Oak Quercus palustris 55' 70' Baldcypress Taxodium distichum 60' 80' Legend American Linden Tilia americana Village Green 50' 60' Village Green Japanese Zelkova Zelkova serrata Village Green 50' 60' 14 NOTE: Not all trees listed here are suggested for street tree use. Since there is such a variety of large trees available, those listed are for a unique characteristic, application use, or tree form. We perform tree maintenance along electric lines to the extent that minimum distances are created between the power lines and the surrounding trees.

17 TRANSMISSION RIGHTS-OF-WAY (ROW) Compatible Trees* Vegetation that grow less less than 20 feet tall Flowering Almond Prunus triloba 6' 10' Star Magnolia Magnolia stellata 10' 20' Hopa Crabapple Malus Hopa 12' 18' Mary Potter Crabapple Malus Mary Potter 10' 15' Eastern Redbud Cercis Canadensis 15' 20' Fringetree Chionanthus virginincus 15' 18' White Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida 15' 20' Red Flowering Dogwood Cornus rubra 15' 20' Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa 16' 18' Purple Leaf Flowering Plum Prunus cerasifera 15' 20' Dwarf Norway Spruce Picea abies Compacta 8' 12' Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce Picea pungens R. H. Montgomery 10' 15' Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 5' 6' Winterberry Ilex verticillata 6' 8' Redosier Dogwood Cornus sericea 7' 9' Nanking Cherry Prunis triloba 6' 10' Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum 6' 10' *In New Jersey, The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities prohibits: Any species maturing over three feet tall in a transmission ROW Wire Zone, the area directly under the conductors. Any species maturing over 15 feet tall in a transmission ROW Border Zone, the area from the edge of the conductors to the edge of the ROW. NOTE: Situational and topographical conditions may not allow for selected species to be used in some locations. Consult your energy provider for planting limitations at your site. Remember, before you dig, dial 811, the toll-free number of your state utility notification service. The service will contact member utilities who will mark the location of underground facilities for you at no charge. Call two to 10 working days in advance. In August 2003, a widespread blackout affecting 50 million customers in two countries and seven states was caused by a single tree making contact with a transmission line. As a result, state utility commissions have imposed strict regulations on the control of vegetation in transmission line rights-of-ways. Tree Maintenance Guide 15

18 16 TRANSMISSION RIGHTS-OF-WAY (ROW) Continued Compatible Shrubs* Vegetation that grows less than 20 feet tall Japanese Flowering Quince Chaenomeles speciosa 8' 10' Siberian Pea Shrub Caragana arborescens 10' 15' Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa 8' 10' Royal Purple Smoke Tree Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple 10' 15' Burning Bush Euonymus alata 8' 12' Forsythia Forsythia X intermedia 8' 10' Siberian Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis Wareana 12' 18' Hatfield Yew Taxcus X media Hatfieldii 6' 12' Upright Japanese Yew Taxcus cuspidate Capitata 10' 12' Blue Hollies Ilex X meserveae Prince/Princess 10' 15' Chinese Witch Hazel Hamamelis mollis 10' 15' Rhododendron Rhododendron (Various species) 10' 20' NOTE: Situational and topographical conditions may not allow for selected species to be used in some locations. Consult your energy provider for planting limitations at your site. Remember, before you dig, dial 811, the toll-free number of your state utility notification service. The service will contact member utilities who will mark the location of underground facilities for you at no charge. Call two to 10 working days in advance. *In New Jersey, The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities prohibits: Any species maturing over three feet tall in a transmission ROW Wire Zone, the area directly under the conductors. Any species maturing over 15 feet tall in a transmission ROW Border Zone, the area from the edge of the conductors to the edge of the ROW. In August 2003, a widespread blackout affecting 50 million customers in two countries and seven states was caused by a single tree making contact with a transmission line. As a result, state utility commissions have imposed strict regulations on the control of vegetation in transmission line rights-of-ways.

19 O&R Nationally Recognized for Tree Management Practices The National Arbor Day Foundation has named Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. a Tree Line USA utility in recognition of O&R s national leadership in caring for trees while meeting service objectives. The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized O&R for training its workers in quality tree care practices and helping its customers to plant appropriate trees near utility lines an approach that not only helps to provide beautiful trees for the future, but also results in longterm operational savings for the utility. Know what's below. Call before you dig. Call 811 Call two to 10 working days in advance. O&R manages vegetation along 3,800 miles of primary electric distribution and 600 miles of electric transmission in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Tree pruning is an integral part of keeping outages to a minimum and making storm restoration more efficient by managing the growth and maintenance of a healthier, more storm resistant tree stock. For more information and tips to help you save energy and money while improving your property s beauty and enhancing its value, visit Vegetation Management Legal Requirements New York: York State Public Service Commission Order 04-E-0822 directs all New York transmission operators to remove all undesirable (noncompatible) vegetation species rooted within the transmission Rights-of-ways (ROW) to ground-level, including non-compatible vegetation buffers. Undesirable species are those species whose mature heights will encroach into the wire security zone. Please be aware of this requirement when planning any plantings near transmission ROWs in New York. New Jersey: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities N.J.A.C. 14:5-8 - Vegetation management standard directs New Jersey utilities under 14:5-8.6 that a public utility shall not allow any vegetation that grows taller than 15 feet at maturity to grow anywhere within a transmission line right-of-way, and that the electric public utility shall not allow woody plants that naturally mature above three feet tall to grow in the wire zone (the area of the ROW floor directly under the transmission conductors). Please be aware of this requirement when planning any plantings near the transmission rights-of-ways in New Jersey.

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