Tree Talk. Customer Care.

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Tree Talk

Did you know that trees can help improve your safety and electric reliability? This booklet will help you select the best trees for your home, and provide tips

about their maintenance and how you can keep them healthy.

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Customer Care

Tree Talk

LIPA’s Forestry Program

What is Line Clearance?

Trees that interfere with electric wires can cause serious prob- lems. They are the number one cause of power outages – par- ticularly in storms – and can cause surges, fires, injury to peo- ple, and damage to property. Serious injury or death can result from children or adults climbing trees and coming in contact with electric wires. LIPA’s Line Clearance Program trims tree branches away from electric wires, helps ensure public safety, minimizes electrical interruptions and outages, and limits damage from severe storms. It also provides a zone of safety in which line workers can do their jobs.

LIPA’s Tree Management Professionals

LIPA hires professional crews who follow standards developed and approved by arboricultural societies and national safety agencies to perform line clearance work. These methods may result in trees having un-natural appearances, but they also pre- serve the health of the trees and keep tree branches safely away from electric wires.

Will LIPA trim all trees?

No, LIPA only clears tree limbs that threaten our electric wires.

It is important to be able to distinguish between LIPA’s wires and telephone or cable TV (CATV) wires. The following pic- ture illustrates where LIPA’s wires are typically located. If you should ever come across a downed wire, call the police and LIPA immediately. Do not attempt to determine if it is an elec- tric, telephone, or CATV wire. For safety’s sake, assume that it is a live electric wire. NEVER touch or try to move these wires yourself.

Customer Care

What is “Directional”Pruning?

When we trim a tree near your home or business, the technique most commonly used is one called “directional trimming.”

Directional trimming strives to train the tree to grow away from and around the wires. These trimming practices were developed by the U.S. Forest Service and are endorsed by the International Society of Arborculture as well as tree care professionals across the country.

LIPA Primary Electric Line (13,200 Volts)

LIPA Secondary Electric Line (120/240 Volts)

LIPA Service Wire (120/240

Cable TV (CATV) Lines Telephones

Lines

Initially, your trees will look different following directional trimming, but this practice provides the best opportunity for the tree to stay healthy.

Directional Pruning

Through Pruning

Under Pruning

Side Pruning

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Who will remove the debris?

We will remove the debris that results from our regularly scheduled line clearance program. However, when respond- ing to emergencies or customer requested work the debris is the responsibility of the tree owner.

Line Clearance One Circuit at a Time

Our Line Clearance Program focuses on trimming trees along an entire electrical circuit, which can be several miles long. Circuits that experience the most outages are handled first. This is our most effective way of reducing outages to a majority of customers. Line clearance work is performed all year long.

Individual Requests

LIPA’s response to individual line clearance requests is limit- ed to EMERGENCIES ONLY. For example, call us right away at 1-800-490-0075 if a broken tree limb is actually leaning heavily on a LIPA wire or has caused a wire to come down.

T

TY YP PE ESS O OF F C CU UT TSS

PROPER COLLAR CUT

PROPER LATERAL CUT

Branch

Collar 2 Cuts/

Break

Final Cut

First Cut Second Cut

Final Cut

While retaining normal plant shape, thin interior branches and foliage and remove crossing or parallel branches.

Do not trim back main central leader.

Most trees do not require staking. If required for protection or stability, use tree strapping or hose covered wire. Leave 1” space between hose and all sides of trees. (Remove after 1 year).

Tree should be put into ground with root flare 1” above soil grade to allow for settling.

Spread 2-4” of mulch (aged wood chips, shredded

bark, etc.) uniformly over disturbed soil.

Backfill with existing top soil or a soil mixture consisting of four parts by volume of soil mixed with one part of peat moss or composted organic material. Do not compact soil around root ball except at very bottom of root ball for stability.

• Water thoroughly after planting. During dry periods oc within the first year of planting, soak the planting hole

• Fertilize only in special circumstances if recommended

Proper Planting Information

curring once a week.

by your nursery professional.

Always pick up tree by container or root ball.

Transit trunk guards (remove after planting).

Hardwood stakes 2” x 2”, two or more per tree, if required (remove after 1 year).

Cut and remove burlap from upper 1/3 of ball. Remove all synthetic string and synthetic fabric. Remove upper 1/2 of wire basket.

Use 3” mound of earth over ball (to retain water).

Hole diameter should be at least twice the diameter of root ball. Dig hole no deeper than the depth of the ball.

Slope sides outward to 3 times diameter of root ball.

Firm undisturbed soil.

Proper planting is critical for proper root development and tree growth.

Tree Talk

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Thoughtful Tree Planting

If you are thinking about planting new trees around your home, being mindful of the type, location and eventual height of the trees you choose is another way to improve safety and electric reliability. In fact, this is LIPA’s preferred, long-term solution to trees interfering with electric wires.

Plant the right tree in the right place

Different trees have different mature heights. By paying special attention to where you plant each tree, you can enhance the value of your property, save energy costs and prevent costly maintenance trimming or potential damage to your home. Good landscaping uses shrubs and low- growing trees that are compatible with LIPA’s overhead &

underground electric lines. These “wire-friendly” trees will not reach electric lines and, therefore, help prevent power interruptions to you and your neighbors.

Trees that grow 20 to 35 feet

This region ends 15 feet away from electric utility wires.

Appropriate trees for planting in this location include Amur Maples, Hedge Maples, Serviceberries, Flowering

Crabapples, Kousa Dogwoods, Star Magnolias, Goldenrain Trees, Flowering Cherry Trees, Japanese Tree Lilacs, and Cleveland Select Callery Pears.

15 ft.

15 ft.

35 ft.

or less Tree Pruning 45 ft. Zone

or less

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Customer Care

Trees that grow 35 to 60 feet

This section takes in mostly lawn area. Decorate or frame your house instead of hiding it from sight. Select medium- sized trees like Green Ash, Thornless Honey Locust, Tupelo, Sawtooth Oak, Willow Oak, English Oak, Littleleaf Linden, Chinese Elm and Japanese Zelkova.

Trees that grow to 60 to 100 feet

You can use larger types of trees here; however, the tree plant- ing should consider your neighbor’s view or their own plant- ing of flowerbeds and trees. Plant large trees at least 35 feet away from the house for proper root development and to minimize tree damage to the house or building. Tall trees include London Planetree, Northern Red Oak and Silver Linden.

Using trees to keep your home more comfortable and save energy

According to the U.S. Department of Energy,“carefully posi- tioned trees can save up to 25% of household energy con- sumption for heating and cooling.” Place deciduous (leaf dropping) trees on the east, west and north west side of the house. They’ll help keep your home cool in the summer and allow the rays of the sun to warm the house in the winter.

Always be sure to shade air conditioning units. When possi- ble plant evergreen trees on the windward side of your home to serve as protection from the cold winter winds. Your local nursery will be happy to help you make the correct decision when selecting trees, shrubs and plants that will enhance your property.Bring a plot plan with you when shopping for new trees.

Tree Talk

Be on the Alert for the Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a significant pest to trees.

Look for trees damaged by beetles. Damage includes entry and exit wounds, often with sap flowing out of the trunks or branches and sawdust piled up at the bases of trees. For positive identification, please contact New York State Dept.

of Agriculture & Markets at 631-288-1751.

Asian Longhorned Beetle (actual size)

Look for damage caused by Asian Longhorned beetles—

1/2” well defined holes and sawdust at base of tree.

Customer Care

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Call Before You Dig

It is extremely important that you survey your property before you start planting, or begin a construction project that involves digging, drilling or excavating. Make sure you know the location of any underground utilities that may be buried. To help you locate these facilities, we recommend you call the national "Call Before You Dig" number, 811, at least two working days ahead of time. If necessary, the loca- tion of pipes or cables will be marked for you free of charge.

Please remind any contractors you may hire that they are obligated by law to call before excavating.

LIPA is recognized for its Forestry Programs

LIPA has been named a Tree Line USA utility by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. LIPA was the first electric utility in New York State to achieve this distinction. The Tree Line USA Award recognizes utilities that meet three requirements: a program of quality tree care, annual worker training, and public education. Better tree care by Tree Line USA utilities means beautiful trees for the future and savings for the customer.

LIPA Customer Service

1-800-490-0025

FC 11212 3/08 Printed on Long Island using recycled paper

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Kevin S. Law President & CEO