LOW-GROWING SPECIES:*
Crabapple
Mature Height: 25 feet
PLANTING TIPS:
• A
void planting directly beneath or next
to overhead utility lines. Within 20 feet to
either side of lines, plant species that don’t
exceed 20 feet in height when mature.
Visit cturbanforestcouncil.org for a list.
• C
onsider the shape and width of the tree’s
crown at maturity when planting.
Fringe Tree
Mature Height: 20 feet
Japanese Flowering Cherry
Mature Height: 25 feet
• T he National Arbor Day Foundation website,
arborday.org, has information about planting
near utility lines. Look for the brochure titled
“The Right Tree in The Right Place.”
• W
hen working around overhead utilities,
assume all the overhead lines are energized.
Keep yourself and your equipment at least
10 feet away from overhead lines.
• D
ial 811 to Call Before You Dig before you put
a shovel in the ground.
• H
and-dig within 18 inches of underground
natural gas and electric facilities.
Star Magnolia
Mature Height: 20 feet
Eastern Redbud
Mature Height: 25 feet
• If you smell natural gas or suspect a damaged
natural gas line, call 911 and your gas utility.
–Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation,
866-924-5325
–Southern Connecticut Gas Company,
800-513-8898
• R
eport downed or damaged lines to UI at
800-722-5584 (800-7-CALL-UI).
Winged Sumac
Mature Height: 15 feet
* From the Connecticut Urban Forest Council website; visit cturbanforestcouncil.org
for more trees with short mature heights.
The United Illuminating Company
180 Marsh Hill Road
Orange, CT 06477-3629
2012 The United Illuminating Company | Paid for by UI Customers
Right tree. Right place.
TALL TREES
Over 40 feet
Challenging times
for trees
MEDIUM TREES
40 feet or less
Recent years have brought a series of damaging
weather events to Connecticut. We’ve endured
tornados and ice storms, Nor’Easters, a tropical
storm and a rare October snowstorm. These events
affected all of us at The United Illuminating
Company and many of our customers. They also
left scars on our forests and trees.
On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene swept
through the area, causing damage throughout
our service territory and toppling 1,500 or more
trees. Two months later, an unusual October
snowstorm dumped up to 18 inches of heavy
snow on trees that had yet to shed their leaves,
sending branches crashing onto streets, homes
and electrical equipment.
With the arrival of warm weather, many of our
customers will be thinking about replacing trees
lost in the recent storms.
The United Illuminating Company encourages
customers to plan before planting, in the interest
of working safely, protecting utility services and
promoting the long-term health of the trees.
PRUNING
ZONE
SMALL TREES
20 feet or less
Look up
Call Before You Dig: Dial 811
Consider what’s overhead. Trees may require costly
pruning to prevent them from interfering with overhead
utility lines as they reach their mature heights. Even
trees that have been properly pruned may topple
onto nearby lines and electrical equipment during
storms or other events, contributing to service outages
and potentially creating public safety concerns.
Before putting shovel to ground, dial 811 to Call
Before You Dig. At no charge, local utilities will
determine whether there are underground services
on your property and mark them so you’ll know
what to avoid.
Avoid planting trees directly beneath or immediately
next to utility lines, and plant only low-growing species
within 20 feet to either side of utility lines. A certified
arborist, landscaper or the staff at your local garden
store should be able to help you choose.
Remember always to check for overhead lines
whenever you’re working outdoors. Assume overhead
lines and service wires are energized, and keep
yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away.
Digging too close to underground services can
cause leaks or ruptures, or present safety concerns.
Always hand-dig within 18 inches of underground
natural gas services, as required by law.
Trees planted too close to underground utilities
can cause problems as their root systems expand,
and the trees may be damaged if utilities need to
dig to access their equipment.
If you smell natural gas or
suspect a damaged natural
gas line, call 911 and your
local gas utility.