Should I Remove Vines From Power Lines?
We are all so used to having power that we can sometimes panic during service disruptions and outages. Some outages have nothing to do with storms and power surges and instead come from vines in our own yards. So, should I remove vines from power lines?
Don’t attempt to remove vines from power lines, as the plant is conductive, so you may get shocked. You can also inadvertently dislodge wires during the process, which is a fire and shock hazard. Call your electrical utility provider to schedule a vine removal or tree trimming to protect your power lines.
Never intentionally grow vines anywhere near the utility poles in your yard. The risk is too high compared to the reward of having some vines. Follow along as we explore everything you must know bout vines growing on and near power lines.
Can You Remove Vines From A Power Line?
While vines can be removed from power lines, you shouldn’t attempt to do it yourself. Vines are conductive, so you should never touch them if they are on power lines. You can suffer a severe electrical shock, and you may even die, especially if moisture is present. The entire length of the vine can even become electrified in extreme cases. The problem is that you can’t tell that just by looking at the vines or even the power lines.
You’ll only understand the danger when it’s too late, so you should avoid touching anything altogether. There’s also a risk that you’ll accidentally dislodge the power lines when removing the vines. It’s hard to tell whether vines are alive or dead, and you can’t rely on a visual inspection. Some vines are green and vibrant while others appear dead, but are actually thriving.
Who Should You Call About Vines On A Power Line?
Call your local power company when you discover vines on your power line. They have the skills, knowledge, experience, and equipment to pull vines off power lines. You can also call your electrical utility provider to tell them about tree branches growing over power lines. Some people wait to contact a power provider because they worry trimming trees and vines will be expensive.
However, power providers don’t typically charge customers for vine removal and tree trimming. That's because they are the ones who place power lines, not the customers. Vines and branches on power lines can cause thousands of dollars in damage, most of which affects the power provider. It’s in their best interest to quickly fix the problem before any serious damage occurs. Vines on power lines are also serious fire hazards, so it’s not worth the risk.
How To Prevent Vines From Growing On Power Lines
While you shouldn’t attempt to remove vines from power lines, you can at least work to prevent them from getting out of control, although you cannot safely handle vines if they’re touching the power lines. In this section, we are strictly referring to vines growing near power lines. Never trim vines that are touching electrical poles and power lines, or else you may get shocked. You can prevent vines from climbing electrical utility poles by using some preventative measures.
Inspect The Utility Poles
Before you do anything, thoroughly inspect the electrical utility poles in your yard. It’s hard to miss vines growing on utility poles, so you’ll quickly notice them. You may even notice vines on the pole that haven’t yet reached any power lines. That’s the best-case scenario in this situation, aside from finding no vines at all. Look up at the power lines to see their path to the next utility pole. That pole may not be on your property, but it’s important to see if any vines are growing on it. This is important to know so that you can tell your electrical utility provider about it when you call. You can still call them even if the vines are just on the pole and not yet on the lines.
Explore The Surrounding Area
Inspect the area around your power lines. Even if you don’t see any vines on your electrical utility pole, they could be nearby and will eventually reach the pole and power lines. Look at vertical structures and surfaces in the area closest to the utility poles. This can include a fence, nearby trees, a garden trellis, or even the side of your house. Find the vines and trace them back to their end point, and make sure they don’t touch anything electrical along the way. If they don’t, then you can safely cut the vines at the base to kill them.
Next, put concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr on the vine’s stump to ensure it doesn’t grow back. Many vines are resilient, and can come back to life even after being severed. Otherwise, you can cut the vines at the base, coil them, and put them in a sealed yard waste bin to ensure they never reach your power lines.
Smother The Area Around The Utility Poles
Do you continually find vines in the area around your utility poles? If so, you may need to smother the soil to stop all problematic growth. This will also kill the grass and other beneficial plants in the area. If you’re okay with that, proceed and gather cardboard or plastic tarps. Kill any active vines and remove the roots if possible.
Cover the soil with a thick layer of cardboard or plastic tarps, then weigh them down. This will deprive the soil of sunlight and water, making it uninhabitable for vines and other plants. Only consider this option if you don’t plan to grow any meaningful plants nearby.
Seasonal Trimmings/Removal
The good news about vines is that they don’t grow nearly as fast as you may think. They’re not going to reach your power lines overnight. That’s especially true if you inspect the area and remove existing vines twice yearly before they can reach your power lines. Ideally, inspect and remove vines once during the spring and once again during early autumn. Doing so will ensure they don’t have enough time to reach your power lines. You can include this task with your regular spring and fall cleanup routine.
Why Do Vines Climb Power Lines?
Vines climb vertical objects and structures to get more sunlight. Vines can also access more moisture up high due to natural condensation. That’s why you often see vines climbing fences, trellises, trees, houses, and utility poles. They may look nice, but there is the risk of power line damage, electrical shock, and fire.
Why Won’t My Power Company Trim Trees?
If your power company won’t trim trees, it’s likely because of their schedule. Power companies usually trim trees in the event of emergencies, but they don’t always rush. This can be frustrating if you’re worried about fire hazards and power outages. If it’s urgent, you can call their emergency line to get service as quickly as possible. Otherwise, many power companies have schedules in which they visit their utility poles and power lines at different times.
They simply may not have gotten around to your property yet, which can explain why you still see vines and branches near your power lines. Many power suppliers notify their customers to tell them about upcoming trimmings and inspections. Be patient if possible, but don’t hesitate to call the emergency line if you notice a serious problem.
Summing It Up
Never attempt to remove vines from power lines, as there’s a severe risk of electrical shock. Vines are conductive, so you should only let your local power supplier remove vines from utility poles and power lines. However, you can stop vines from climbing utility poles by cutting them at the root and treating the stump with concentrated glyphosate or triclopyr.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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