Trees are an important part of our community. They absorb carbon dioxide from the air, generate oxygen and cool the air. We encourage our customers to plant trees and we actively participate in tree-planting programs ourselves. Together, we can help protect the air and enhance the environment today and for generations to come.
Your tree purchase is a lifetime investment. Protect your investment by taking a few minutes to plant the right tree in the right place.
The Right Time
Trees purchased from a nursery or garden center usually can be planted throughout the area’s growing season, which generally runs from April to October.
The best time to plant trees and shrubs, however, is when they are dormant:
- In the spring, plant before buds appear, but after the ground thaws.
- In the fall, plant after leaves drop or after the first hard frost.
Learn more with the Arbor Day Foundation's Hardiness Zone Lookup Tool.
The Right Place
Trees mature to different heights. Always remember to look up before you plant. Determine where the tree will be located in relation to the power lines once the tree is fully grown. Selecting the right tree for the right location will help you maximize the benefits from your investment. Here are some factors to consider when selecting your planting location:
Overhead and underground utility clearance
Before planting your tree, consider the location of power lines and underground transformers:
- Remember that the small tree you plant today will grow upward and outward each year. By finding the right spot to plant your tree now, you can avoid the need for tree trimming or possible tree removal in the future. Keep in mind that tree limbs, which can knock down power lines, are the most common cause of power outages.
- To select the best location for your tree, you need to know two things — the size (height and width of the tree at maturity) and the clearance requirements for both overhead and underground utilities. Our tree species chart (PDF) describes the growth habits of many different trees and shrubs that grow well in Southeastern Michigan. The chart also tells you how close the tree or shrub can be planted to overhead lines.
- Underground transformers need an 8-foot clearance from the front doors of the transformer cabinet. A 2-foot clearance is needed at the back and sides.
- Please plan your landscaping with these clearances in mind. Be sure to consider how much the landscaping will spread as it matures. We must trim or remove vegetation or structures that encroach on these clearances.
Safety reminder!
Raise the flags for safety! Call MISS DIG at 811 to locate all underground utilities before you dig post holes or plant trees. The service is free—and it’s the law. Just call three full workdays in advance.
The D- and T-zones
The power lines that carry electricity from the substation to local neighborhoods are part of a power distribution system. Tower-mounted lines that carry energy from power plants to substations are part of the transmission system. Because the amount of energy each system carries is different, the distribution system and the transmission system have different tree-clearance needs.
These charts show you proper planting distances, by mature tree height, for the D (distribution) and T (transmission) zones:
Zone 1 -- directly under to 20 feet away: Trees or shrubs with maximum height of 25 feet.
Zone 2 -- from 20 to 50 feet away: Trees with maximum height of 45 feet.
Zone 3 -- more than 50 feet away: Trees more than 45 feet in height.
Zone 1 -- directly under to 30 feet away: Do not plant trees or shrubs – only grass.
Zone 2 -- from 30 to 60 feet away: Trees with maximum height of 15 feet.
Zone 3 -- from 60 to 90 feet away: Trees with maximum height of 25 feet.
Zone 4 -- from 90 to 120 feet away: Trees with maximum height of 60 feet.
Energy savings
Well-planned landscaping not only muffles street noise and cleans the air, it helps you reduce energy costs! Trees and shrubs provide cooling shade in the summer and reduce the effects of wind chill in the winter:
- Place deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the fall) on the south and west sides of a house to provide cooling summer shade and reduce air-conditioning bills. When the trees lose their leaves, you'll enjoy the benefit of solar heat gain in the fall and winter months.
- Give highest priority to planting shade trees due west of west windows.
- Plant evergreen trees on the north and west sides to protect your home from blustery winter winds and reduce heating costs.
Walkways and Driveways
Homeowners often plant flowering trees as accents near drives and walkways. Be sure to consider the mature size of the tree in relationship to the space you are enhancing.
When large trees are planted too near walkways and driveways, proper root development is inhibited. The pavement becomes a water and oxygen barrier for the roots, which can lead to an unhealthy tree. Growing roots can raise and break pavement, creating a tripping hazard. Branches extending too far into the walkway or driveway can be hazardous, too.
Curbside trees
- Curbside trees provide shade and cover for paved surfaces, reducing reflected heat. Street trees also improve the curb appeal of a neighborhood.
- Local ordinances frequently control planting in the area between the curb and sidewalk. Check with your city or township office before you plant.
Sewer and septic systems
Trees with far-reaching root systems should not be planted near sewer lines or septic systems. Roots can easily force their way between sewer tiles, blocking or breaking them.
The Right Tree
Tree selection is an important decision when landscaping a new home or replacing a damaged or diseased tree.
Here are some questions to consider:
- Are you planting for shade or wind protection?
- Do you want fruit, flowers or seasonal color?
- Do you need to block a view or reduce noise?
- Do you want to attract wildlife?
Then visit your local nursery and ask plenty of questions:
- Is the tree suitable for the purpose you have in mind?
- What will be its mature height and width?
- Will it grow well in this climate?
- Does the tree prefer sun or shade?
- Does it have any special soil or water needs?
Select your new tree with diversity in mind. This will help you minimize landscaping damage if there's an outbreak of a tree disease or an insect infestation that affects just one tree species.
Our tree species chart (PDF) describes some popular trees and shrubs for our area and recommends safe planting distances from overhead power lines.
The Right Care
Follow these planting and care tips to help your new tree grow healthy and strong:
Planting
- Before you dig, call MISS DIG. The service is free—and it’s the law. Just call 811 three full workdays in advance.
- To avoid damaging your new tree, carry it to its planting location by the root ball, not by the trunk.
- Dig the hole at least three times the diameter of the root ball.
- The hole should be the same depth as the root ball.If the tree is in a plastic container, carefully remove it.
- If the tree is in a biodegradable wrap, set the tree in place and simply loosen the wrapping material.
- Refill the hole, tamping the dirt and watering as you go to remove air pockets or voids.
- Stake the tree if it is large and is being planted in a windy or sandy location. Drive 6- to 7-foot stakes into the ground just beyond the root mass. Secure the trunk to the stakes with flexible straps. Leave enough slack in the support straps to allow the tree to sway in the wind. Remove the stakes after the first full growing season.
Caring for your new tree
- Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil and guard against accidental damage to the bark while mowing or trimming the lawn. Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer, but keep mulch away from the trunk of the tree.
- Water the tree slowly and thoroughly, deeply soaking the soil, once every 7-10 days throughout the first growing season.
- Fertilize according to recommendations provided by your nursery.
- Avoid root damage by protecting the soil. Tree roots need oxygen and water to survive and grow. Heavy construction equipment, vehicle and foot traffic, and lawn maintenance can compact the soil, starving and suffocating the young tree's roots. Minimize traffic around the base of the tree. Use bricks, gravel, flagstone, etc., rather than continuous cement walks around trees.
For more tree-care tips, please visit the National Arbor Day Foundation's Web site.
Download*our informative brochure about planting the right tree in the right place.
