TREE Program: Trimming Reduces Electrical Emergencies
In an effort to provide the most reliable and efficient
electrical service to our customers, we have initiated our TREE
Program. TREE is an intensive professional tree-trimming program
that will start with target areas where tree growth has caused the most
problems.
At Murfreesboro Electric Department, we understand the
beauty and importance of trees in our community. They provide shade,
privacy, and add value to our property. Unfortunately, most power outages
can be attributed to trees being too close to power lines.
Murfreesboro Electric serves close to 50,000 customers who
live and work along 515 miles of electric distribution lines. These are the
lines that deliver power to homes, neighborhoods and communities. We must
keep the trees that are located near these power lines pruned on a regular
three or four year cycle. We will trim trees in such a manner as to allow
for growth until the trees are scheduled to be trimmed during the next
cycle. We will constantly review and adjust these schedules to keep trees a
safe distance from power lines.
Murfreesboro Electric uses a private contractor,
Asplundh Tree Expert Company, to implement our vegetation management
techniques and objectives. They are nationally recognized as a Professional
Arboricultural Company. They must meet and maintain specific guidelines in
order to retain the contract on a year-to-year basis. These guidelines
include OSHA Safety Standards, ANSI pruning techniques and other
professional standards.
When it becomes necessary to trim a shade or ornamental
tree away from the power lines, the trimming technique most commonly used is
one called "Lateral Pruning". Lateral pruning strives to train the tree to
grow away from the wires. These trimming practices were developed by the U.
S. Forest Service and are endorsed by the International Society of
Arboriculture as well as tree care professionals across the country.
A guiding principle of lateral pruning is that 90% of
the interfering branches can be removed by making 3 larger cuts within the
tree, 90% of the time. Our trimmers will look within the tree to determine
where these cuts should be made, rather than simply shortening a multitude
of branch tips. Initially, your trees will look different following lateral
pruning, but this practice provides the best opportunity for the tree to
stay healthy.
Lateral Pruning means fewer cuts are required to remove
the limb at its attachment point within the tree. While the size of the cut
may be larger than was common with tree topping or rounding, fewer cuts mean
better wound isolation for the tree. This translates into less future
susceptibility to possible decay organisms.
Additionally, our crews use the collar cutting method
to remove limbs. This also helps the tree to isolate or "compartmentalize"
the trimming cut.
