The trick is anything fast growing will likely hit the power lines pretty soon, and will likely have weak wood.

Sounds like you want a tree that tolerates aggressive
pruning (so you can hack it up to keep it away from the power lines) and is disease resistant.

If you plant something that suckers, then when you cut down one that interferes with the power lines it will throw up new trucks.

What about Paw Paw? Disease resistant and suckers.
Sassafras albidum? Also suckers and has interesting leaves.

Black Gum is supposed to have extra strong wood and be resistant to fallen branches.

Look at the trees already there. What seems to be doing well, and looks good to you?

Help us narrow down your choices.
What is your soil like? Sandy, clay, swampy, salty, acidic? Is wind a problem? Deer?
What diseases are a problem around there?

What do you want out of these trees? Edible fruit, wildlife interest, winter interest?

This post was edited by edlincoln on Fri, Dec 12, 14 at 17:48

any tree that has the potential to grow taller than the lines... should most likely not be planted within 30 to 50 feet of the lines ...

no tree stops growing at some magical height ...

and as noted.. the faster it grows... the faster it will get in the lines ...

giving us a pic.. would sure get you some advice you can act on.instead of wild speculation ...

most likely .... the sight block you are wanting.. has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH PLANTING UNDER OR NEAR THOSE LINES ...

i might be able to explain that ... with some pix ...

you need to change your mind set ... you have been given an opportunity to do something new... and it did not cost you multiple thousands of dollars to get rid of a bunch on no good useless trees ...

try hard.. not to plant a series of more useless fast growing weed trees ...

ken

There are a number of shrubs that will actually get fairly large such as lilac. Without even a tree form, they can get 20' high. You could also try serviceberry, amur maple (grows fairly fast but will start falling apart as it gets bigger), various dogwoods, viburnum, hazelnut, honeysuckle, redbud, or some of the star magnolias. Most of these are also very ornamental (flowers or foliage) as a plus.

But to the other posters' points, many of the better suited plants do not grow very fast.

This brochure has some useful information.

Here is a link that might be useful: trees under power lines

" But that will never happen because - well - we can't have efficient governance in this country, apparently."

Or aesthetically pleasing use of plants in residential settings, either.

I am going to guess that the power lines are in the front Yard? If you have no power lines in the back, make your back yard where you put the desired shade trees. If you have all power lines in back, side, front, I would freakin cry and put the plot up for sale ASAP. My opinion. I actually inherited a plot of land like that. Very small little plot, power lines across the front yard. The back yard had a septic tank, and city sewer line both. In either case no big tree should be planted there. The front yard had a Colorado Blue spruce there taking up plenty of room. Well, I rejected that land. But, if you aren't a tree nut like me, and don't want to move cause you can't have a forest for a yard, plant some trees that can take the space you have alotted for a few trees. The Thornless Honey locust don't get that huge, and other peeps will add more ideas. If you have no power lines in the back yard, you can plant whatever you want. Good luck, Poaky1

You say power lines but you do not say what kind of power lines.

Are we talking about the ones that carry thousand volt on the metal giants that walk across the landscape or are we talking about the kind that service local home and additions that are usually on wooden poles.

It makes a significant difference in what you can do. If the lines are high voltage you may get away with planting things like lilacs that grow to a maximum of 20 to 30', if the power lines are the low voltage lines on wooden poles then you will have to live with plantings that screen the lines and are planted 30 to 40 feet from the poles.

Need more information.