Misplaced or improperly maintained trees can cause power outages during severe weather. You can help prevent power outages by using the following guidelines to plant your trees or click here to print a detailed brochure on planting the right tree in the right place.
- Contact IPL at 317.261.8737 before considering planting near transmission towers or easements. IPL will remove any trees or shrubs that are not compatible with transmission lines.
- Locate underground power and other utility lines before you dig. Call 811 at least two working days before planting trees. Utility representatives will mark the location of underground lines.
- Plant trees and shrubs at least 10 feet away from transformer boxes.
- Plant large trees at least 50 feet away from overhead distribution lines, and smaller trees at least 10 feet away from the lines.
To avoid future problems, don’t plant trees:
- near underground pipe or septic systems,
- in areas where the tree will dangerously overhang your home,
- too close to sidewalks, where growth will block street or security lighting, or
- too close to a door or picture window.
IPL Compatible Trees and Shrubs
Names of trees/shrubs | Maximum height |
Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) | 6′-12′ |
Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii) | 6′-8′ |
Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ′Conica’) | 6′-12′ |
Dwarf Flowering Almond (Prunus glandulosa) | 6′-7′ |
Dwarf Korean lilac (Syringa meyeri palibin) | 5′ |
Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) | 6′-10′ |
Forsythia “northern gold’ | 6′-8′ |
French and Canadian hybrid lilacs | 8′-10′ |
Hydrangea (macrophylla) | 4′-6′ |
Mary Potter crabapple (Malus x ′Mary Potter′)* | 10′-12′ |
Mock-orange (Philadelphus Var.) | 4′-12′ |
Mugo pine (Pinus mugo) | 8′-10′ |
Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) | 5′-9′ |
Purple leaf sand cherry (Prunus x cistena) | 6′-8′ |
Red Twigged Dogwood (Cornus alba) | 8′-10′ |
Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) | 8′-10′ |
Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii)* | 6′-10′ |
Weigela ('red prince') | 6' |
No trees shall be planted within 10 feet of towers, poles or wood structures.
Access to IPL towers, poles and wood structures must be maintained.
Trees or shrubs planted in transmission easements that exceed 12' in height or endanger the line will be removed. In some instances low growing species are not appropriate due to grade or structure height.
The original grade shall be maintained.
- IPL prohibits the self-trimming of any trees or shrubs on granted transmission easements.
IPL retains all granted easement rights. (Plant at your own risk.)
Prior to planting on transmission line easements, submit a landscape plan for IPL approval.
If you have questions regarding a specific site location, please contact our staff arborist at 317.261.8737.
