Right Tree, Right Place
Lasting Beauty with Less Pruning
Selecting the right trees to plant near power lines can minimize or prevent the need for pruning.
Trees add beauty to our communities and also help reduce energy consumption. Over time, they can even increase your property value.
When choosing trees to plant on your property, be sure to select trees that won't interfere with power lines. Fallen branches and trees that contact power lines are among the top causes of outages.
Smaller trees minimize conflicts with overhead electrical equipment and wires. That means that these trees will be less likely to pose outage hazards.
Keep in mind that we may need to trim larger trees to ensure that they don't come into contact with power lines. As shown in the illustration below, larger trees may be safely planted farther away from electrical lines.
Community Seminars
PSE&G and The New Jersey Tree Foundation regularly hold a free seminar, "The Right Tree in the Right Place, the Right Way." The seminar covers information on trees and storms, bugs and pests, how to safely plant trees, and vegetation management policies.
Community organization leaders, county officials, as well as other interested parties are invited to attend. Periodically check the NJ Tree Foundation website for seminar advertising.
The Right Tree
The table below lists trees that should be compatible with overhead electric distribution equipment. Local conditions should prevail in selecting the species in any specific location. If you need help, try contacting your local shade tree commission.
Common Name |
Botanical Name |
|
Ash, Snowberry |
Sorbus discolor |
|
Cherry, Accolade Flowering |
Prunus sargentii"Accolade" |
|
Cherry, Amanogawa |
Prunus serrulata"Amanogawa" |
|
Cherry, Cornelian |
Cornus mas |
|
Crabapple, Red Baron |
Malus"Red Baron" |
|
Crabapple, Narragansett |
Malus"Narragansett" |
|
Crabapple, Prairifire |
Malus"Prairifire" |
|
Crabapple, Red Bud Flowering |
Maluszumni calocarpa |
|
Crabapple, Snow Drift |
Malus"Snowdrift" |
|
Crabapple, Sugar Tyme |
Malus‘Sutyzam’ |
|
Dogwood, Celestial* |
Cornus"Rutdan" |
|
Dogwood, Constellation* |
Cornus"Rutcan" |
|
Dogwood, Kousa |
Cornus kousa |
|
Dogwood, Kousa National |
Cornus kousa"National" |
|
Dogwood, Ruth Ellen* |
Cornus"Rutlan" |
|
Dogwood, Stellar Pink* |
Cornus"Rutgan" |
|
Dogwood, White Flowering |
Cornus florida |
|
Fringe Tree |
Chionanthus virginicus |
|
Golden Chain Tree |
Laburnum anagyroides |
|
Golden Raintree |
Koelreuteria paniculata |
|
Hawthorn, Crimson Cloud |
Crataegus oxyacantha"Crimson Cloud" |
|
Hawthorn, Crusader |
Crataegus crus-galli inermis"Cruzam" |
|
Hawthorn, Lavalle |
Crataegus x lavallei |
|
Hornbeam, Japanese* |
Carpinus japonica |
|
Ivory Silk Tree Lilac |
Syringa amurensis japonica"Ivory Silk" |
|
Japanese Tree Lilac |
Syringa amurensis japonica |
|
Magnolia, Oyama |
Magnolia sieboldii |
|
Magnolia, Wada’s Memory* |
Magnolia"Wada's Memory" |
|
Maple, Amur |
Acer ginnala"Flame" |
|
Maple, Hedge* |
Acer campestre |
|
Maple, Japanese |
Acer palmatum |
|
Maple, Purpleblow |
Acer truncatum |
|
Maple, R. Slippers Amur |
Acer ginnala"Ruby Slippers" |
|
Maple, Tartarian |
Acer tataricum |
|
Pear, Korean Sun |
Pyrus fauriei"Westwood" |
|
Plum, Newport Purpleleaf |
Prunus cerasifera"Newport" |
|
Redbud, American |
Cercis canadensis |
|
Shadblow, Cumulus |
Amelanchier laevis"Cumulus" |
|
Shadblow, Pink |
Amelanchier x grandiflora"Robin Hill" |
|
Silverbell, Jersey Belle |
Halesia carolina"Jersey Belle" |
|
Silverbell, Magniflora Two-winged |
Halesia diptera"Magniflora" |
|
Snowbell, Japanese |
Styrax japonicus |
|
Sourwood |
Oxydendrum arboretum |
|
Stewartia, Korean |
Stewartia koreana |
* Tree may grow over 25 feet in height and need to be trimmed in order to maintain a height that does not exceed 25 feet.
