Now one step simpler for safe digging
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, all KU customers and excavators who work in the KU service territory — in all 77 counties served by KU — can contact Kentucky 811 to have underground electric lines marked before digging. No need to contact KU directly!

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) (0.75mb)

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

Winterberry

  • Mature height - 10 ft.
  • Red berries in winter

Winter Honeysuckle

  • Mature height - 10 ft.
  • Good hedge; fragrant flowers

Weigela

  • Mature height - 8 ft.
  • Red or pink flowers

Forsythia

  • Mature height - 10 ft.
  • Yellow blooms

Lilacs

  • Mature height - 10 ft.
  • Fragrant blooms

Mock Orange

  • Mature height - 8 ft.
  • Choose fragrant varieties

Deutzia

  • Mature height - 8 ft.
  • Graceful, white pendulous flowers

Flowering Quince

  • Mature height - 6 ft.
  • Orange, pink or white blooms

Burning Bush

  • Mature height - 6 ft.
  • Red fall color

Hydrangea

  • Mature height - 8 ft.
  • Many varieties; summer blooms

Calycanthus

  • Mature height - 8 ft.
  • Unique, fruity fragrance

Zone 2 - Trees Chart

Junipers

  • Mature height - 30 ft.
  • Keteleeri, Canaerti, Columnaris

Arborvitae

  • Mature height - 20 ft.
  • Techny, American, Emerald

Paperbark Maple

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • Exfoliating bark

Serviceberry

  • Mature height - 30 ft.
  • White flowers; orange-red fall color

Fringetree

  • Mature height - 30 ft.
  • White blooms in spring

Kousa Dogwoods

  • Mature height - 20 ft.
  • Good resistance

Cornelian cherry dogwood

  • Mature height - 20 ft.
  • Yellow flowers - early spring

Smoke tree

  • Mature height - 30 ft.
  • Green- and red-leafed varieties

Royal star magnolia

  • Mature height - 20 ft.
  • White blooms in spring

Sweetbay magnolia

  • Mature height - 30 ft.
  • Tulip-like blossoms in spring

Ann magnolia

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • Pinkish-white tulip flowers in spring

Flowering Crabs

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • Choose disease-resistant

Japanese tree lilac

  • Mature height - 30 ft.
  • White blooms late spring

Red buckeye

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • Red blooms

Akebono flowering cherry

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • Pinkish-white flowers in spring

Carolina silverbell

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • White bell-like flowers in spring

Paw paw

  • Mature height - 20 ft.
  • Tropical-like foliage, edible fruit

Viburnum

  • Mature height - 25 ft.
  • Fragrant flowers

Taxus Yew

  • Mature height - 20 ft.
  • Many shapes and forms

Witch hazel

  • Mature height - 15 ft.
  • Winter bloomer

Crepe Myrtle

  • Mature height - 15 ft.
  • Train into multi-trunk flowering tree