The first Friday in March is designated as Tennessee Arbor Day, and since 2008, KUB has marked this day planting trees at Habitat for Humanity homes. Today, KUB and its contractor, Volunteer Erosion Control (VEC), planted 15 dogwood trees in the neighborhoods with Habitat for Humanity homes built over the past year within KUB’s service territory.
More than 265 trees have been planted since this partnership began. KUB participates in the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Line USA program, which requires participating utilities to plant trees in their communities, and the Habitat homes are a good match.
KUB encourages customers to use proper tree planting techniques; including planting the right species of tree in the right place to avoid future growth into power lines and by using the Call 811 system to prevent dig-ins on utility lines during an excavation project.
KUB's own pruning practices are approved by the Arbor Day Foundation, support safe and reliable electric service and help preserve the health of the tree.
The foundation has named KUB a Tree Line USA utility each year since 2001 for following best practices in utility arboriculture through quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education.
Trees add beauty and life to our community, as well as help conserve energy, increase property values, and clean our air and water.
KUB serves more 200,000 electric customers and maintains more than 5,000 miles of electric lines. For more information on how to plant the right tree in the right place, Tennessee’s Call 811 system, or KUB’s tree pruning services, visit www.kub.org.