Ahhhhh … spring.
The season – which may seem far away as the region grapples with winter weather – is the perfect time to get out in the yard or the nearby field and plant some trees.
Yet before a resident decides to plant trees to spruce up their home, experts recommend calling 811 to find out if the latest home improvement project will impact underground utilities.
Safety is the key as nearly 35 million Americans will dig on their property this year without checking for underground utilities. That means they will put themselves at risk of injury and potentially impact service for hundreds of other people.
There are more than 22 million miles of pipes, wires, cables, and other systems buried across the nation, so residents need to understand what is beneath the soil before digging.
By calling 811 at least 2 business days before a dig project, residents will avoid trouble and ensure their safety. The free service links a homeowner to the nearest utility locators that signal underground utilities with specific colors. For example, red marks electric power lines while yellow marks indicate gas lines.
Orange marks telecommunications systems while blue illustrates water lines. Green marks show sewer lines purple marks indicate reclaimed water white shows proposed excavation sites.
When a homeowner or contractor digs within 2 feet of these marks, they should utilize only small hand tools such as garden trawls. They should also take care to avoid contact with utility lines. Even a shovel – seemingly a simple tool – can impact underground utilities even if the lines are surrounded by a protective casing.
Tree placement is important as it requires careful planning, especially around overhead power lines. Note: If you plant a tree that will grow higher than 25 feet, it is crucial to maintain a minimum of 40 to 60 feet from the utility lines. Trees that are smaller – and won’t climb higher than 25 feet – can be planted 25 feet away from power lines.
Another key point to recall is tree roots can spread wider than the branches visible above ground. That means when you plant near underground utilities, it is critical to remember those tree roots can – as they grow – interfere with pipes and cables. If roots become a problem in the future, repairs to the pipes and cables could damage other nearby plants and trees.
Proactive planning will safeguard your landscaping venture and the infrastructure needed and used by all.
Here are a few tips:
- Keep shrubs and structures 10 feet away from utility equipment access doors.
- Maintain 4 feet of clearance around other sides of utility equipment.
- Avoid planting directly under power lines.
- Consider a tree's mature size when choosing its location.
Trees can grow next to power lines and often become the key reason for power interruptions and flickering lights. Also, during a severe storm, branches from those trees near power lines can trigger outages or safety dangers.
