Be smart and safety conscious when planting trees

The spring season is one of the best times to begin planting trees. But remember to be mindful of potential hazards in your path. Here are some tips from Hydro One on how to remain safe among trees and power lines:

1. If you are planting a seedling at home, make sure it is planted at least eight metres away from power lines. Almost a third of power outages in Ontario are caused by tree contact with power lines, so considering tree placement from the beginning will prevent outages in the future.

2. Low-growing evergreen shrubs that are planted beside basement walls can brighten your home's exterior while providing warmth and insulation for colder months of the year. Remember to plant shrubs at least 60 centimetres away from your foundation walls.

3. Plant with a strategy. A good windbreak includes a mixture of coniferous trees, deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs and perennial plants. The right combination planted tightly together can shield your home from cold winter gusts. Even a single row of white pine trees can reduce the speed of wind hitting your home by 60 per cent.

4. Never prune or shear trees that are close to power lines. Using tools such as ladders or long-handled pruning shears near lines could provide a path for electrical current to run through them and potentially cause serious injuries.