PLANT A BE tt E R FUTURE COLORADO THE RIGHT TREE Selecting Trees for Maximum Benefit in Urban, Suburban and Rural Com- munities • Safety & Electric Service Reliability • Energy Conservation • Appearance & Health • Proper Tree Planting • After Planting Care • Natural Directional Pruning CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . .2 BENEFITS OF PLANTING TREES . .3 SAFETY & ELECTRIC RELIABILITY . 4 CALL BEFORE YOU DIG PHONE NUMBERS . 5 ENERGY CONSERVATION. .6 SELECTING A TREE. .7 SOIL TEST PHONE NUMBERS. .9 TREE SPECIES LIST . 10 PLANTING YOUR TREE . 14 CARING FOR YOUR TREE. 18 PRUNING YOUR TREE. 18 NATURAL DIRECTIONAL PRUNING. 19 BENEFITS OF PLANTING TREES This guide provides information Improved Wildlife Habitat for homeowners, nurseries, garden Trees provide nesting places and centers, tree growers, landscape safe cover for many species of birds designers, builders, businesses and and other animals. other landowners on the selection and placement of trees to maximize Increased Property Values their benefits and to avoid any haz- Trees also enhance property values. ards the trees might create. When Studies have shown that mature you properly select and site a tree, trees raise the value of homes by you will bring many benefits to your 15 percent or more. They add to home and community. the beauty and comfort of a home PLANT A and can screen an unattractive view Energy and Cost Savings or provide privacy. Businesses also BETTER FUTURE Properly placed shade trees lower benefit from trees planted on bou- MEANS CHOOSING temperatures in communities and levards and shopping areas, attract- homes and reduce the need for air ing more customers to their stores. THE RIGHT LOCATION conditioning, conserving energy Alternatively, poor species selection and dollars and reducing air pollu- FOR YOUR TREE and poorly placed trees, such as tall- tion. Trees shade homes, streets and growing trees planted too close to parking lots reducing the urban heat There are many potential benefits of planting from power lines can help prevent these power lines, can decrease your prop- island effect. In winter, the correct trees—environmental, economic and social. situations from occurring, but severely erty value, or block business signage. trees can provide shelter from winds, However, trees that are poorly placed can pruned trees are, at best, unsightly. At worst, reducing energy usage. See page 6 Healthier Communities create problems. Our goal is to help you they become unhealthy, trees with a high for more information. Trees enhance social interaction in understand why choosing a suitable location risk of failure that need to be removed. communities. Trees are a focal for your tree provides a better future for your Air and Water Quality point for gatherings and help tree and all of us. Trees can also extend the length of an outage to underground utility lines if they Trees help improve air quality by reduce the isolation of inner city Trees growing near high voltage power lines interfere with access to equipment. Over- trapping particulates and absorbing neighborhoods. Tree plantings are can cause downed lines and power outages grown trees can scrape the sides of houses carbon dioxide. Trees play an impor- effective ways to bring communities in storms. Because tree branches can carry or cars, drop fruit and leaves into neighbors’ tant role in the environmental cycle together, which helps them orga- electricity, trees interfering with power lines yards, block signage, hang low over side- by absorbing carbon dioxide and nize for other community goals as may cause short circuits, activate protective walks or even cause them to heave or break. giving off oxygen. Trees store large well. Thus trees become catalysts equipment, and interrupt service. Trees can amounts of carbon in their trunks for creating healthier communities. also provide access to high voltage power All of these potential problems can easily and leaves, which reduces the envi- Better Species Selection lines that can lead to severe injury and death be avoided by planting the right tree in the ronmental effects of burning fossil from electrical contact. Pruning trees away right place. fuels. Their roots help hold soil in Selecting the right tree as listed in place, reducing erosion and slowing this guide helps eliminate invasive, water runoff, contributing greatly to non-native species of trees (such as water quality. Russian Olive and Buckthorn) that are banned for planting by some state governments. 2 | Plant A Better Future Plant A Better Future | 3 CALL 50 - 75 ft. Zone BEFORE Plant taller trees C (40 ft. mature height or greater) YOU DIG House House PLANTINg ZONE gUIDES 25 - 75 ft. Transmission Lines Underground utility lines can Zone B Plant medium-sized trees present serious safety risks when 10 ft. (25-40 ft. mature height) The larger lines that carry power 10 ft. digging a site for tree planting. You from power plants to substations must call for a “locate” to identify No Plant Zone* are called “transmission lines”. They all underground electric, gas, water, 0 - 25 ft. Zone carry higher voltage electricity than Plant shorter trees sewer, cable and telephone lines to No Plant Zone* A Pole-to-house service line (25 ft. mature height the typical distribution system found Transformer or less) 10 ft. help choose a good planting site and (Ground-level in most neighborhoods. The support electrical box) before you do any digging. Call 811 Underground lines Overhead lines structures for transmission lines are or the one-call service center in your H-frame wood poles, single steel state to locate these lines for you * Don’t plant within 10 feet of ground-level * Don’t plant within 10 feet of pole-to-house lines. equipment so we can see it and open it. poles, or steel lattice-type towers. within three days. Don’t dig within Please do not plant trees under 24 inches of these line locations. transmission lines. Not only can trees Colorado: Call 811 or the Utility SAFETY & become overgrown and cause power Notification Center of Colorado outages, they also can block the path 1-800-922-1987.” ELECTRIC of construction vehicles that need SERVICE access to the lines for maintenance and emergency repairs. For further RELIABILITY information about trees and trans- Trees are a common cause of electric service business, which is the line between the mission lines, contact our Siting & interruptions nationwide. Even with regu- pole and the house or building. Larger trees Land Rights department. lar tree maintenance, we respond to many must be planted even further away from the service calls because trees have interrupted main power lines that run along backyards, Colorado: 1-800-621-9427 electrical service. Trees in power lines can alleys or roadways. Generally the taller the cause serious and sometimes fatal accidents tree grows, the further it should be from any involving contact with power lines. Under- power lines. standing the “zone” approach to finding a good spot for your tree can help solve many Underground Lines of these problems. You will find a hardiness If you have underground utility lines, be zone guide with corresponding tree recom- careful not to locate a tree or shrub in front mendations on pages 10-13. of any electrical equipment installed at ground level. When power outages occur, Overhead Lines our crews need to locate and access the To help ensure electric service reliability and equipment quickly. If equipment is hidden public safety in your neighborhood, consider or the doors are blocked, the length of the the tree planting zones in the illustration outage may be extended plus your plantings above. No trees should be planted within could be damaged. 10 feet of the service line to your home or 4 | Plant A Better Future Plant A Better Future | 5 North SELECTING A TREE Blossoms. Many trees have colorful blos- Appearance soms, including: crabapples (Malus spp.), callery pears, magnolias, and most of the When choosing a tree, you should Generally medium–sized trees West East Prunus spp. (plums and cherries). consider its appearance and how it that grow no taller than 40 feet fits into your landscape. Trees vary should be at least 25 feet away widely in size and shape. Two gen- from a power line. Tall trees that eral distinctions are those that drop will grow to more than 40 feet their leaves or needles each year should be at least 50 feet from the (deciduous) and those that are green line. The size of the tree at matu- South all year round (evergreens or coni- rity should also be a consideration Fruit. Many trees have fruit that attracts Save energy by planting trees that shade fers). Many have showy blossoms, when siting it in relation to your wildlife and adds color to your yard, includ- your house on the east and west sides ing: crabapples, the yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), turn bright colors in the fall or have house. Trees planted too close to a in summer. The trees will then shed their hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) and the Texas attractive bark. house can damage the roof, siding leaves in the fall to allow heat gain from the madrone (Arbutus texana). winter sun. In cooler climates, evergreens or cause foundation problems. planted on the north or northwest side can Size provide a winter windbreak. The small sapling at the nursery that Consider how the tree will look might seem to fit well under power when mature. Will it frame the ENERGY lines can grow very rapidly–taller house nicely or overwhelm it? Some- times a tree that seems too big in a CONSERVATION than you might anticipate. This guide lists only trees that may be planted front yard will make a good back- ground for the house when placed Properly placed trees can conserve energy In southern climates only, where winters Fall Color.