Right Tree, Right Place

Planting the Right Tree, in the Right Place

Planning ahead is important when you are thinking about planting a new tree. People often plant trees without thinking about how large they will grow once they mature. It’s difficult to imagine that the six- or eight-foot tree you plant today could grow as tall as 80 or 100 feet over time.

Our Right Tree, Right Place brochure can help you select a tree that is appropriate for the area you’re considering. This guide provides valuable tips and suggestions on how to plant the right tree in the right place to prevent the tree from growing into overhead power lines.

When planting within 25 feet of an overhead power line, you should choose large shrubs or small evergreens and hardwood trees with mature heights up to 15 feet (see Zone 1 – Shrubs chart below). When planting between 25 and 35 feet of an overhead power line, you should choose large shrubs or small evergreens and hardwood trees with a mature height of up to 30 feet (see Zone 2 - Trees chart below). 

This list is not all-inclusive and is meant as a guide for distribution lines. Transmission lines may have other compatible species. Vegetation of any species may be removed for operational, safety or reliability reasons.

Right Tree, Right Place Brochure (PDF) (0.59mb)

Always contact 811 before you dig. It’s the law.

No matter what type of tree you purchase and where you plan to plant it, always be sure to contact 811 before you dig. The depth of underground utilities (i.e. electricity, natural gas, water, cable and telephone service) varies.

When you contact Kentucky 811 or Virginia 811, they will coordinate with its member utility companies in your area to have the underground service lines marked. LG&E and ODP are member utilities in all of the areas they serve. KU is a member utility in many areas, but, in some areas, you will need to make a call to KU to request to have underground electric service marked.

To find out if KU is a member in the county where you will be planting your tree, visit this list.

The utility companies will mark your yard using the American Public Works Association's standard utility color code — at no charge to you — to ensure you know where their service lines are buried.

Zone 1 - Shrubs Chart

SpeciesDrained SoilMoist SoilSunShadeMature Height (ft.)Value & Remarks
Winterberry***Semi10Red berries in winter
Winter Honeysuckle* *Semi10Good hedge; fragrant flowers
Weigela* *Semi8Red or pink flowers
Forsythia*Semi*Semi10Yellow blooms
Lilacs* *Semi10Fragrant blooms
Mock Orange*Semi*Semi8Choose fragrant varieties
Deutzia*Semi*Semi8Graceful, white pendulous flowers
Flowering Quince*Semi*Semi6Orange, pink or white blooms
Burning Bush* *Semi6Red fall color
Hydrangea*Semi*Semi8Many varieties; summer blooms
Calycanthus*Semi*Semi8Unique, fruity fragrance

Zone 2 - Trees Chart

SpeciesDrained SoilMoist SoilSunShadeMature Height (ft.)Value & Remarks
Junipers* * 30Keteleeri, Canaerti, Columnaris
Arborvitae*** 20Techny, American, Emerald
Paperbark Maple* * 25Exfoliating bark
Serviceberry* *Semi30White flowers; orange-red fall color
Fringetree* *Semi30White blooms in spring
Kousa Dogwoods* *Semi20Good resistance
Cornelian cherry dogwood* *Semi20Yellow flowers - early spring
Smoke tree* * 30Green- and red-leafed varieties
Royal star magnolia*Semi*Semi20White blooms in spring
Sweetbay magnolia*Semi*Semi30Tulip-like blossoms in spring
Ann magnolia*Semi*Semi25Pinkish-white tulip flowers in spring
Flowering Crabs*Semi* 25Choose disease-resistant
Japanese tree lilac* * 30White blooms late spring
Red buckeye*Semi*Semi25Red blooms
Akebono flowering cherry* * 25Pinkish-white flowers in spring
Carolina silverbell* **25White bell-like flowers in spring
Paw paw****20Tropical-like foliage, edible fruit
Viburnum* *Semi25Fragrant flowers
Taxus Yew* **20Many shapes and forms
Witch hazel* *Semi15Winter bloomer
Crepe Myrtle* **15Train into multi-trunk flowering tree