Long Island is a forest of utility poles and overhead wires. It is important to consider the type of tree that you plant so that its eventual height does not interfere with overhead wires and possibly contribute to power outages.
At our previous location in Plainview there was a display area with several of the recommended “wire friendly” trees. These were observed for several years to assess their performance. All performed well and should be considered as trees to be used near overhead wires or even as small trees in other areas of your
property.
The following varieties were grown and observed in our demonstration area.
| Amelanchier 'Robin Hill Pink' | Serviceberry |
| Carpinus caroliniana | American Hornbeam |
| Koelreuteria paniculata | Goldenrain Tree |
| Maackia amurensis | Amur Maackia |
| Prunus virginiana 'Schubert' | Schubert Chokecherry |
| Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer' | Cleveland Select Callery Pear |
| Syringa reticulata | Japanese Tree Lilac |
To learn more about wire friendly trees, visit the following links.
LIPA Wire Friendly Trees
Cornell Cooperative Extension Community Tree Selection
Cornell Cooperative Extension Underwire Trees
Ohio State University Street Tree Evaluation Project
Penn State University "Questions About Trees & Utilities" 
| Last updated April 18, 2006 | Web site comments or suggestions? Contact us: rwt3@cornell.edu |