Right Tree Right Place
Look up and look down before you plant
Trees are worth planting. Shade, beauty, privacy, cleaner air, windbreak, lower energy bills, higher property values — the list is long, and MTE wants members to have all of it.
Placement is key. A tree planted in the wrong spot grows into a problem neither you nor MTE wants: a misshapen tree that needs pruning every few years, or an outage that reaches well beyond your own property. Most yards have both overhead lines and underground equipment, so it’s important to plan around both.
The guidance below covers where to plant near overhead lines, how much room to leave around underground transformers, and the one crucial call to make before your shovel goes in the ground.
Five things to think about before you plant
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Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides. They give you cooling shade in summer and let warming sunlight through once the leaves drop.
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Plant evergreens on the north side. They become a natural windbreak against cold winter wind.
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Use shorter trees for stability and beauty. They hold soil in place and add interest to your landscaping without reaching toward the lines.
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Think about mature height and root spread. Some short-flowering trees never interfere with the electrical system because their mature height remains 15 feet below the power lines. Plant the base of the tree 15 to 20 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.
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Keep large trees 40 to 60 feet from the right-of-way. The extra room means less pruning over the life of the tree.
Mature height decides where a tree belongs. That six-foot sapling at the nursery may reach 60 feet and cause outages along the way.
MTE's right-of-way is a 40-foot corridor, 20 feet on each side of a power line, where crews prune or remove trees to keep the line clear. Using these distances, measure from the center of the pole line and based on the mature tree height:
- Mature height of 20 feet or lower — Within the right-of-way in a maintained yard setting — no closer than 10 feet from the center of the pole line or 15 feet from any pole.
- Mature height of 20 feet or higher — A minimum of 40 feet from the center of the pole line.
MTE's Approved Tree List includes species recommended for the right-of-way that won't interfere with power lines. Our arborists also suggest avoiding tall, fast-growing species such as Bradford pears, silver maples, and tulip poplars near lines.
Related resources:
In some cases, homeowners might have a transformer (a large green box) for underground equipment in their yard. Lineworkers must be able to reach it safely during an outage or routine maintenance — sometimes at night, sometimes in bad weather. Landscaping in the way slows down work and can create safety issues for our crews.
Keep the No Grow Zone clear:
- No landscaping within 12 feet from the front of the transformer
- No landscaping within 3 feet on all other sides
As vegetation matures, roots can interfere with underground electrical lines and cause outages. Planting outside the No Grow Zone protects the equipment and keeps crews safe.
MTE's Vegetation Management team regularly checks the No Grow Zone and provides reminders to keep it clear.
Underground power lines and other utilities can sit just below the surface. Hitting one with a shovel can hurt you, knock out service for the whole neighborhood, and possibly leave you responsible for fines and repair costs.
Call 811 at least three business days before you dig. It's free, and MTE is a member of Tennessee 811, a not-for-profit that notifies participating utilities of excavation in their service areas.
Here's how it works:
- Decide where you'll dig and mark the area with white flags or white paint.
- At least three business days ahead, call 811 with basic information about the location and your digging plans. 811 contacts the utilities serving the area.
- Utilities mark their lines with flags or paint. They have three business days to finish.
Dig carefully and avoid digging near the markings.
Related resources:
Placement affects your bill. Large deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home give you cooling shade in summer and let warming sunlight through once the leaves drop. Evergreens on the north side work as a windbreak against cold winter wind.
One caution: evergreens too close to the south side block winter sun and can raise heating costs.
Root systems spread wider than most people expect. Deep-rooted trees withstand severe weather better. Wide-rooted species should go well away from foundations, structures, and plumbing.
In Tennessee, planting during a tree's dormant season minimizes stress and gives roots time to establish before summer heat arrives.
MTE's Vegetation Management Specialists are certified arborists. They know the species that do well in Tennessee and how to position a tree for home comfort, energy savings, and power grid protection. Ask before you plant, not after, if you're within 40 feet of electric equipment.
If you received a letter about a tree on MTE's right-of-way, reach out to MTE's Vegetation Management team. Relocating a tree early is far easier than dealing with it once it's established, and our team can talk through your options.
Download the Approved Tree List
Species recommended for the right-of-way that won't grow into power lines.
Have you heard about Project Pollinate?
Project Pollinate brings native plants to local green spaces to promote places for pollinators to thrive.
