AEP Warns Against D-I-Y Tree Trimming Projects

With spring comes home improvement projects, and perhaps one of them is having a tree trimmed. While trees add beauty to your yard and landscaping, they can cause power outages, property damage and serious injuries.

Tree limbs that fall into power lines are a major cause of power outages. AEP regularly trims trees that are near power lines to keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses.

Since tree branches can become conductors of electricity, customers should never attempt to trim trees that are near power lines, including the service drop (the power line from the utility pole to your home). Call your local power company to have any trees near power lines trimmed.

When should you attempt to trim a tree yourself? Just about never. Consider that a full-grown tree may weigh several tons, and a single limb may weigh hundreds of pounds. In the vast majority of cases, you should call a professional.

Tree trimming is extremely hazardous. Hazards include injuries from falls,