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| I recently purchased a 24" box 'October Glory' Red Maple to plant in my front yard, but just found out the planting site is approximately 6' from the underground power line servicing my home. Will this be problematic? Should I use a root barrier? I am willing to take a little bit of a risk since this is the only spot to plant for the much needed shade, but I dont want to set myself up for an inevitable headache. Thanks for the help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by stompoutbermuda Z8DesertSunsetZ11 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 13, 12 at 13:59
| Im not sure what I did was right, but I planted some italian cypress trees right on top of my utility lines last spring. I was told that if there ever was a problem the lines would be rerouted..... the person who told me this was not contemplating the roots being a problem, but instead some freak problem that caused an underground line to snap.... maybe from an earthquake or something? |
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| Your power company is the ultimate resource to answer this question. If it's your private line from the general feeder, if you compromise it, you could set yourself up for the repair if any is needed, not to mention setting up possible hazards. You'll need to have the line located before you dig, as well. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 13, 12 at 16:03
| my 2 cents.. for what its worth.. since i do not live in CA [which it goes w/o saying.. is like no where else with restrictive freedom-encroaching laws] .. is that it is irrelevant ... its not a water/septic line.. the tree has no inclination to seek it ... and today.. with their drilling capabilities.. its not really an issue in regards to rerouting ... i had a gas leak.. and they just brought in their horizontal drill and drilled in a new line ... instead of destroying the whole yard ... i think you are thinking about older water and septic lines .... wherein a crack/leak can encourage a tree to literally invade the line .. and that aint good ... but i figure .... the tree is not going to be attracted to electric or gas.. so i just dont see an issue ... even with a maple.. lol .. the biggest caveat.. IMHO.. is you better be darn sure where your lines are.. if you plan on jumping on your shovel ... otherwise .. dig very carefully ... ken ps: my gut tells me if you ask a CA city.. they will probably not allow you to dig .. nor plant a tree.. or restrict your choice of tree.. etc ... dont ask.. just do it.. and dont quote me pps: i would NEVER plant that big a tree in july/august.. and i know what i am doing .... do you have any idea how to PROPERLY PLANT IT??? ... just in case.. check out the link .. its not about it 'cant be done' .. its about a novice knowing all the tricks to succeed ... easily!!! ... this large box.. could either be left at the nursery .. tagged for planting time delivery ... or held over.. but then.. maybe z9 CA is different.. and that.. i dont know ... |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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| I've heard of stories of gas leaks killing plants which are growing near them. But I've never heard of an underground power line causing problems, except there something unrelated happened and they had to dig. As mentioned by others, that seems unlikely these days. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 13, 12 at 17:47
| Ken, you need to realize that planting for just about anywhere on the west coast is a 12 months of the year proposition......pretty much anything hardy can be planted at any time you want, provided the soil is workable and the water is flowing! There may be preferred planting times but not necessarily proper planting times. Proper planting time is when you have the shovel in hand, or better yet, some cheap labor to do it for you :-) |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 13, 12 at 17:47
| Ken, you need to realize that planting for just about anywhere on the west coast is a 12 months of the year proposition......pretty much anything hardy can be planted at any time you want, provided the soil is workable and the water is flowing! There may be preferred planting times but not necessarily proper planting times. Proper planting time is when you have the shovel in hand, or better yet, some cheap labor to do it for you :-) |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 13, 12 at 18:54
| pretty much anything hardy can be planted at any time you want, provided the soil is workable and the water is flowing! ==>> hey gal.. i realize a lot of things.. irrelevant to what i say .. this person.. is asking about how to dig a hole .. i made a presumption .. and forgive me if i presume wrong ... that they are not what many of us would think of as highly experienced ... i am positive.. that they do not have your 20 ... 30 .. or more years of experience in the trade .... i presumed.. that perhaps.. they were thinking of amending the hole at planting... which you would rarely, if ever ... i was presuming that they may not know PROPER watering ... and trees are VERY specific as to how you water.. when you water .. and how that all works in her soil .... especially regarding drainage ... now.. based on all those presumptions [and i did ask forgiving if i am wrong] .. i then wonder if they can properly care for a VERY LARGE transplant.. which all 24 inch box plants are ... that they may not know how.. to take PERFECT care of .. based on planting during least forgivable time of year ... all i am ever suggesting, in this vein of thought .....is that july and august.. are not the most forgiving times of the year.. to be attempting your first ... EXTREMELY large transplant .. as i said.. even with my 20 odd years experience.. not as a professional ... i would not even do ... i simply could not deal with the potential loss of the whole investment ... and the 'worry' would drive me insane ... the premise is simple .. you can do it anytime you want.. but there are better and easier times .. to make it easy .... and raise your success rate up past 99% of the time ... insure you have a warranty ... follow the planting link [or whatever your warrantor suggests so you dont have to argue with them] ... and if you have problems.. gal will be here to tell you its all so easy this time of year ... the pro's do it all the time .... i wish you all the luck in the world.. and hope it all works out for you ... once again.. forgive me for my presumptions .. and for having to defend myself in your post ... you take care of that tree .. and live your dream ... i hope it works out ... and dont hurt yourself.. because i have tried to move plants in those boxes ... it will not be easy ... ken BTW: after nearly killing myself on the first one.. i told the second guy.. the final time i did this.. that i would pay him 25$ to deliver it to the hole in my yard [this was quite a few years ago .. lol] ... and that made the job a lot easier .... |
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Fri, Jul 13, 12 at 19:02
| I know it's your property, but there is an easement to consider (isn't there?). Are you sure you're allowed to plant such a large tree on the easement that allows the electric company access to your lines? What if they have to dig some time, and end up either compacting the soil with their equipment, or even end up compromising the tree's roots during their digging? I would not have planted an October Glory there, but good luck with it. They are very beautiful trees and will grow quickly for you. |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sat, Jul 14, 12 at 0:30
| Mostly, folks are telling you it should be okay, and I agree. Buried electric lines are eminently "pullable" should replacement or repair ever become necessary, and that means little or no disturbance of an existing tree. On an unrelated topic, it always surprises me to hear of someone in what must be a fairly warm part of Cali (Zone 9) planting the same stuff folks do up north. One guy at work goes out to Irvine, which I think is S. Cali, every year. So I asks him what kind of trees they have out there. His reply: Norway maples! That kind of cracks me up....and appalls me. +oM |
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- Posted by Dzitmoidonc 6 (My Page) on Sat, Jul 14, 12 at 8:51
| Tom, on one trip to SoCal, I visited a nursery and found Pokeweed for sale. Potted up with a tag tag that had a blurb about the attributes of Poke. I spoke to one lady who told me they do not seed wildly down there like they do around here. Poke in a pot. Who'd a thunk it. |
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- Posted by valleybeach none (My Page) on Sun, Jul 15, 12 at 21:44
| Wow, thank you to all who took the time to respond...what entertaining dialogue :) Despite having a masters in clinical psychology, I never cease to be amazed at how much some people assume that they know about a situation based on one question or statement. I didn't realize that I was simply inquiring of "how to dig a hole", but given the assumptions and presuppositions that I clearly don't know how to "PROPERLY PLANT", "PROPERLY water", or "PERFECTLY care for a tree", I guess I should feel grateful that it is assumed that I even know to plant a tree with the roots side down (or am I now the one who is operating from assumptions?). Nevertheless, I appreciate all the feedback and help, because this issue with potentially invasive tree roots and underground power is not a scenario that I have run across until now. Some utility companies I have spoken with suggest not to plant large trees within 30' of underline power. There is, however, a big difference between the ideal and realistic, and that is why i value the opinions of this forum. I had not chosen to create an account until now, but I love this forum because of the diverse and often very educated opinions that are shared. Working as a landscaper for my grandfather for many years I have certainly done my share of landscaping (and yes, that includes "EXTREMELY large" trees in 24" boxes, haha), but I don't want to ever stop learning from my peers or to ASSUME that I could someday "PERFECTLY" care for anything. I make a lot of mistakes, but I am enjoying the process :). I wish my grandfather could have been available for consult on this issue (he went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ last Thanksgiving), but maybe if that had been the case Then I wouldn't have been inclined to join Gardenweb. For that I guess I could also be grateful. Thanks again to all who have offered assistance with my learning process. BTW, Ken, you are absolutely correct about at least one thing - I probably should have applied for a state permit to post on this forum and plant the tree. Our soldiers fight for our continued freedom, but the definition of "freedom" has somehow turned into a liquid and subjective term...especially in the beautiful state of California. |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sun, Jul 15, 12 at 23:03
| The more crowded a place gets, the greater the need to create rules about what kinds of interactions are okay, and which kinds are not. It's just the way things work. Glad you derived some enjoyment out of your visit here, and glad to have you aboard. BTW, I wonder about that power company's differentiating between large trees and small. I wonder, do they mean large at planting, like your 24" box, because that's a bigger excavation, or is it the ultimate size that worries them? If the latter, I don't really get it. Both size classes would easily have roots in the zone of the buried wire. +oM |
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- Posted by valleybeach none (My Page) on Mon, Jul 16, 12 at 9:38
| +oM, the power companies have always - for obvious reasons - stressed calling 811 prior to digging regardless of the size of the project. Regarding the "size" of the tree, however, they are referencing the size of the tree at maturity. There is a significant difference between utility companies suggested placement from underline power. PGE, for instance, only suggested planting >6' from underground power, yet other utility companies seem to use a general rule of the thumb: >half the distance of the height of the mature tree. Sometimes they seem more concerned about damaging the tree if work needs to be done to the utility lines in the future, but other times they indicate concern about a root damage to the utilities. Why the difference? Beats me, but I would love to find out just out of curiosity :) |
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Mon, Jul 16, 12 at 12:40
| I would never plant a tree that close to underground lines. We have an underground electric line in our side yard. I won't plant anything near it because the guy who worked for the electrician we hired this past march to update our electric buried the line under the ground using an excavator. So how would you feel if an electrician had someone dig up the line? You think they're going to carefully shovel around your tree? They are going to do whatever they have to do.... and it will call for an excavator...If you are comfortable with an excavator that close to your tree then go for it. Everyone has different comfort levels.. Planting trees is not just for the here and now...it calls for careful planning. Also, in our area, we are not allowed to plant anything within 8 feet of an underground utility line. |
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