Libba Wolfe

Libba Wolfe's column appears twice monthly in Extra.

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I planned the layout of my sidewalk and front yard borders around three magnificent old Norway  maples. The weakest one didn’t survive the construction process and we had to take it down three years ago.

The second one, despite intensive professional care, quickly lost its will to live. My husband worried that if we didn’t take it down, we’d find it crashed into the living room one windy night.

Even when a tree is obviously dying, it’s a hard decision to take it down. It’s been gone since mid-June.

Losing a big old tree changes everything. Its absence still brings me up short when I drive up our street. The rooms on that side of the house have been hot as blazes this summer. And the shade-loving plants that thrived under its canopy have fried in the afternoon sun. Oh, I miss that tree.

I’ve since found out that Norway maples have a healthy life expectancy of 35 to 45 years. It must have been the “it” tree in the 1940s and ’50s. My neighborhood is full of them and many are dying.

I’ve spent the summer dithering about what to replace it with and how to adjust my plantings. My dilemma is complicated by the utility lines running to the house.

Let’s face it. Putting in a border of shrubs and perennials is short-term gardening. Even the longest-lived can be moved or removed if you make a mistake. Planting a tree involves long-term thinking and deserves serious thought.

My first inclination — I gotta have shade now! — was a fast-growing tree. But instant gratification has a downside.

Fast growers are usually shorter-lived, weaker and therefore more susceptible to pests and disease. Many, such as Silver maple, Lombardy  poplar and Bradford pear, are very beautiful and have a place in the landscape. But I needed to slow down and think. And I couldn’t ignore those utility lines.

I made an appointment with Eric Wiseman, the head of the urban forest program at Virginia Tech.

Who knew there was an entire field of research and development devoted to the proper trees to plant under utility lines?

In fact, there is a wholesale nursery in Oregon, J. Frank Schmidt & Co., that is developing a trademarked line of small-tree cultivars especially for this location. Wiseman is evaluating some of the Schmidt “Utilitrees” in the 3 -year-old Utility Line Arboretum that adjoins the Hahn Horticulture Garden on the Tech campus.

At the beginning of any conversation with a tree expert you’ll hear, “The right tree in the right place.” It’s the best place to start.

Power company crews have been pruning on my street all summer. It’s not a pretty sight when they have to remove the entire side of a big tree. Or cut a deep “V” into the middle. And it’s not exactly the healthiest thing for the tree.

But, hey, who wants live wires dangling in the yard after a windstorm ? Or a dark cold house for days? Or no cable TV? The crews have to be very aggressive for safety reasons.

Many of those trees were planted before overhead wires were a concern. No one can deny the beauty of a street arched with green but planting a big maple or oak under a power line is begging for trouble.

The roots can upend the sidewalk or curb. And tangle with city water lines. If you choose a shorter tree or shrub, don’t forget the width. You don’t want a monthly shearing chore just to keep the sidewalk passable.

It’s also wise to find out the planting strip restrictions in your neighborhood. In some municipalities you must have a permit to plant in the area between the sidewalk and street and under power lines. Before you invest in an expensive tree figure out who is responsible for maintenance.

If you’re looking for the perfect tree to plant near a utility line there are many wonderful choices. Start your search with a visit to The Utility Line Arboretum at Tech. The trees aren’t full-grown yet but you’ll be able to get a good idea about general shape and foliage.

Take a notebook and jot down the cultivar names so you can search for the ones you like. Mark your calendar for  Oct. 29. Wiseman will give an arboretum tour and the inside tree scoop from noon to 1 p.m.

Spend some time on your computer. Google “Virginia Municipal Tree Restoration Program” and follow the links to planting tips and lists of recommended trees.

I haven’t yet made up my mind on what to plant but prime time for tree planting is right around the corner. If you’re in the same boat, start deciding and I’ll have some planting tips from Eric Wiseman next time.