Hedge plant in front garden over a buried power cable

[HarryK]

Hello,
I want to plant a screening/ boundary hedge in my front garden in a strip of land which is currently gravelled and about 1m wide. There is a utility power cable serving my property and possibly the neighbour in this strip of land and it appears to be about 0.8m deep.
Am I able to plant a hedge directly above it? Or should I avoid and instead use planter boxes with trestle and grow a climber?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Anniekay]

I would grow something with a tap root that grows straight down, not something that is shallow rooted and spreads it's roots out and down, and that stays evergreen, BUT, I would move it about 5' away from the underground cable.

Can you grow Italian Cypress where you are? Those are narrow, evergreen, require no pruning, and easily become a very tall hedge but don't get wider than 3 feet across.

 

[tyronee]

It’s great that you’re thinking about adding a hedge for screening, but with a utility power cable so close to the surface, it might be risky to plant directly above it. Using planter boxes with a trellis for climbers could be a safer option and still give you the privacy you want. If you’re unsure about the cable’s exact location or safety concerns, it might be worth giving Scottish Power a call to double-check. You can reach their customer service at scottish power phone number for guidance.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Scottish Power

He's in London
I can't see the power company burying a cable that would be affected by roots, if it were a sewage pipe possibly, they get leaky sometimes, but the sort of fluro-carbon plastics they use on cables are going to have no attraction for roots. The only problem I would anticipate is if they ever want to dig it up they will make a hole in your hedge. Checking with the power company may not be a bad idea if you get someone who knows what they are talking about, otherwise such people are inclined to say "No-way", not because they know, but just to be "On the safe side".

 

[tyronee]

If the power cable is only 0.8m deep, planting a hedge directly above it might not be the best idea, as the roots could potentially interfere with the cable over time. Using planter boxes with a trellis for a climber sounds like a safer and more flexible option. I’d also recommend reaching out to pulse power texas customer service or your utility provider to confirm if they have specific guidelines for planting near utility lines—better to be safe than sorry.

 

[oneeye]

You can plant there easily because the average hedge root is only 30 cm or 11 inches deep. It's common for people to think trees and hedges grow deeper than they really do because of the above growth. Roots mostly spread out in the topsoil and not down deep.

AI
Most tree roots are relatively shallow, with the majority of their biomass in the top 18 inches of soil: google

The city or state makes sure to plant the cable deep enough to ensure people like yourself won't get injured. Check and make sure the plants you want to plant there will be well-suited for that area. If the area is shaded you may have to limit your choices. Dig Dig Dig.

 

[Sean Regan]

We have a cable TV which comes from a point on the outside of our curtilage wall across this bed then under the lawn to a box next to our front door. The laburnum rhodo and azaleas were already there when they laid it about thirty years ago.

I noticed in the summer that the cable at one point is actually at the surface for a few inches. It's been forced up by the roots of the tree or the other plants.
As I don't do any digging there, I'm not bothered, but this what can happen if any cable passes below shrubs or a tree.

 

[oneeye]

We have a cable TV which comes from a point on the outside of our curtilage wall across this bed then under the lawn to a box next to our front door. The laburnum rhodo and azaleas were already there when they laid it about thirty years ago.

View attachment 106557


I noticed in the summer that the cable at one point is actually at the surface for a few inches. It's been forced up by the roots of the tree or the other plants.
As I don't do any digging there, I'm not bothered, but this what can happen if any cable passes below shrubs or a tree.

A typical underground TV cable, even if it's damaged, is highly unlikely to electrocute because the voltage carried by a cable TV signal is very low and not designed to deliver a shockable amount of electricity; however, in rare cases of severe damage or cross-wiring with a power line, a small shock might be possible, so it's still best to avoid direct contact with exposed wires.

Regulations for TV cable and electric power lines are different. TV cable is allowed to be buried only 18 inches or 45c whereas electric power lines must be at least 2 ft or 60 c deep.

Regulations for burying electric power lines, primarily governed by the National Electric Code (NEC), typically require that high-voltage underground cables be buried at least 2 feet deep, with specific burial depths depending on the type of cable, conduit used, and local soil conditions; always check local building codes and contact "Call Before You Dig" services before excavating to locate existing lines. AI