If you’re taking a stroll on the east side of Lakeside, you’ll notice that Ohio Edison recently trimmed and removed trees around major powerlines near the Fifth Street and Poplar Avenue entrance to Chautauqua Park.
The power company is mandated to keep a 15-foot clearance of any tree branches and other obstructions from the power lines.
Most of the trees growing in this wooded area were invasive species, namely the “Tree of Heaven” (Ailanthus) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica). These species spread rapidly and outcompete natives to take over woodlands and disrupt the natural ecosystem.
Ailanthus is also the primary host species of the spotted lantern fly, which is a destructive invasive insect that is beginning to take hold across the country.
Clearing this area serves to keep the power lines unobstructed and controls invasives, allowing native trees and plants to reclaim the area. The contractors use a method called “directional pruning” that encourages trees to grow away from power lines where possible.
The trimming is mandatory, and the power company has the right to enter any property to trim trees for power line clearance.
Over the next few weeks, the Grounds Crew will be working to clean up the area and replant native plants in this space. For questions, contact Kyle Bueter, Lakeside’s Director of Horticulture, at kyle@lakesideohio.com.
