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Landscaping around a transformer and pedestals.

Planting and Landscaping

Storms and wind can cause trees to fall or branches to bend or break into electrical wires. Since trees are a potential conductor of electricity, trees that are touching power lines could cause an electrical outage, fire or electrocution.

If you see trees or branches that are touching power lines, please call MGE at 608-252-7000. Do NOT attempt to remove the tree branch or limbs close to power lines on your own. 

Always call Diggers Hotline (811) before you begin your planting project. 

To avoid the sometimes-dramatic pruning that we need to do to keep people and power lines safe, please plant trees that will not grow to interfere with overhead electric lines or underground utilities.

Ten best trees to plant near power lines

Consult your local nursery to determine an appropriate choice for your landscape, and ensure you're providing proper care for your new tree. Also be sure to ask for disease-resistant varieties and cultivars.

Eastern redbud in bloom.
An eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) in bloom.

Planting near transformers

To improve the aesthetics of our neighborhoods, we install new electric services underground. While it eliminates the tall poles and lines going overhead, it does require pad-mounted transformers in backyards. 

Many homeowners don't consider electric transformers beautiful lawn ornaments, and we can appreciate wanting to screen them from view. Unfortunately, some customers create a hazardous situation by their landscaping choices. 

Employee accessing a transformer

Allow 10 feet of clear space in front of transformers. At least once a year, our service workers open and work on the transformers while they are energized so you and your neighbors don't have to sit in the dark. To safely do that, they use an 8-foot fiberglass "hot stick" which needs about 10 feet of clear space in front of the transformer.  

Pad mount transformer with landscaping

Allow 3 feet of space on sides and behind transformers. Pad-mounted transformers can overheat and cause a service interruption if they do not have enough air circulation around them. Occasionally, transformers may require extensive repairs and eventually transformers must be upgraded and replaced. In those cases, we drive a vehicle into the right-of-way and use a boom to lift and transport them because they are very heavy. Please understand that we may not be able to avoid damaging your plantings. Plantings in front of electric cabinets need to be perennials, ornamental grasses or annuals only. 

Property restoration

Sometimes, MGE will need to access our underground electric and natural gas systems for maintenance purposes. If this work occurs on your property, MGE or our contract crews will restore the area by covering the trench and reseeding with a grass seed mix. 

To ensure that the area is successfully restored, please follow the below suggestions: 

  • Keep the seeds moist. Water daily when conditions are hot and dry. Just wet the upper 1/2 inch to 1 inch of soil. 
  • After four weeks, reduce the frequency of watering but increase its duration to moisten several inches into the soil. This encourages deeper roots for a more drought-tolerant lawn. 
  • Maintain at 2½ inches to 3 inches height. Taller lawns are more heat and drought resistant. 
  • Don't fertilize or use herbicides until after you have mowed five or six times.  
  • Use only slow-release fertilizer to avoid burning the new, tender grass. 
  • Avoid heavy traffic on newly seeded areas for the first growing season. 

Note: Newly seeded areas will have more weeds than your existing turf. Dormant weed seeds will sprout naturally in the soil. In time, the new grass will thicken and compete favorably with the weeds. Once the new grass is established, use herbicides or other more natural methods to control weeds. It will take two full growing seasons for your new lawn to fill in and blend with your existing turf.

Restoration questions?

If you have questions about your lawn restoration, call MGE at 608-252-7000. While we can't avoid causing disturbances to your lawn, we do want to help restore it to your satisfaction. We appreciate your patience and cooperation with our crews during the utility work.

Burying Your Service

Learn about the process and costs to convert your electric service from overhead to underground.

Get informed

Call Before You Dig

Contact Diggers Hotline at least three business days before you start planting.

Dig safe

Tree Pruning

To maintain safe and reliable service, we prune trees and remove saplings that are close to, or may grow into, our electric lines.

See our process
Madison Skyline