2 minute read
Spring Is in the Air, but Be Careful Where You Plant!
With warmer days being the norm, many of us are considering improvements both inside and outside our homes, which may include planting trees.
We take vegetation management very seriously here at Canoochee EMC, with it being one of our most common causes for power outages.
Fortunately, we work hard to maintain a clear right-of-way to promote reliability. As many of you realize, though, best laid plans can often be derailed.
With more than 2,600 miles of line, we have a large area to maintain. Canoochee EMC does this through a five-year cycle to help balance costs with the level of vegetation growth. We also spray herbicides in our rights-of-way to keep vegetation growth manageable until it can be cut. Trees are beautiful, at least until they mature near power lines, and Canoochee EMC maintains 15 feet on either side of our power lines.
However, we can all do our part.
Please remember that your newly planted trees will mature one day, and if they are close to power lines, it will at minimum require trimming. Imagine planting a pecan tree and waiting years for it to start producing, but just as it gets there, we are forced to remove it. This is completely avoidable!
We have a dedicated staff at Canoochee EMC to assist you, and we would rather discuss planting a new tree—or even an orchard—at the beginning of the process rather than at the end. Cutting mature trees can be an expensive proposition, as is moving an entire power line.
