Plant Smart. Keep the Lights On.
In Western North Carolina, our abundance of trees and plants are part of what makes our communities beautiful—but when planted too close to power lines, they become the leading cause of power outages. At Haywood EMC, our focus is serving our member-owners by keeping power reliable and safe year-round.
Why placement matters
Branches that grow into overhead lines can interrupt service during storms, create safety hazards, and increase restoration time. Thoughtful planting helps protect your property while helping the cooperative reduce outages across the system.
Smart planting tips for member-owners
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Choose low-growing trees and shrubs for areas near electric lines.
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Plant taller trees well away from overhead lines so mature growth won’t interfere.
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Consider the full height and spread of a plant at maturity—not just its size today.
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When in doubt, select species known to stay compact or plant farther back from utility infrastructure.
Areas to avoid planting
Never plant within the power line right-of-way or directly under overhead lines. Keeping these spaces clear allows crews to safely maintain lines and restore power faster when outages occur.
Planting with purpose is a simple way to support a stronger, more reliable electric system. By choosing the right plants in the right places, you help us better serve our communities—and keep Western North Carolina powered through every season. When in doubt give our office a call and we’ll be happy to help where we are able!