How to prune

Reasons MGE trims

• For your safety - Trees are good conductors of electricity because they have sap running throughout. If you touch a tree that is touching an energized wire, you could be electrocuted.
• For electrical reliability - Storms and wind can cause trees to fall or branches to break or bend into wires. Even small limbs touching an electric line can cause a short circuit, electrical outage or fire. If branches are too close to high-voltage lines, an electrical arc or flash between the two can cause an outage or fire.

Guidelines MGE follows

• Every four to five growing seasons.
• Amount depends on growth rate of tree species.
• Maintain an 8-foot clearance around high-voltage lines.
• Trim more than 8 feet if it is better for the tree to do so. Leaving stubs encourages infection and decay.
• Follow International Society of Arboriculture, American National A300 Pruning Standards.
• Trim oak trees in dormant season, between October 15 and April 15, when there is little danger of oak wilt infection.

MGE's trimming process

• Contract with Hooper Corp. Crew is supervised by MGE forester and certified arborist.
• Crew trims a circuit or group of circuits, not necessarily following a specific street or neighborhood.
• Crew chips and hauls away brush and small branches, leaving larger pieces for your use as firewood.

Customer notification

• We'll leave a card on your door before our crews arrive in your neighborhood.
• A forester will determine the extent of the trimming needed. If trimming needs to be significant, we'll contact property owners to discuss the pruning.
• If we must remove a tree, we will ask for your written permission.

Customer concerns
If you have concerns about MGE tree trimming, please call Scott Nelson, MGE's forester and certified arborist, at (608) 252-7186.

If you have further concerns, you may appear before the Madison Tree Board. Call the City of Madison Forestry Department for details.

Related link
International Society of Arboriculture, Tree Care series