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A tree can grow back from its stump, but full regrowth is unlikely (especially for more stubborn conifer trees). Instead, trees are more likely to send up a number of shoots from the dead stump, which will try to develop into primary stems over time. In other words, it will start to look increasingly bushy. The goal of killing and drying out a tree stump is to prevent that from happening, as well as make the stump easier to completely remove.

Generally, you’ll want to prune back the trunk by 1 to 2 feet each year to promote bushy growth. Doing so concentrates vegetative buds closer to the bottom of the tree, where you can easily harvest fruit. For side shoots that are a year old, leave at least six leaves. 

Never remove more than 30% of a tree’s foliage during pruning—even if your tree is really overgrown. Removing this much foliage at a time could kill your tree.

No, you cannot plant a tree above a gas line. Tree roots grow and spread over time and can sometimes dent, crack, or penetrate a gas line. Those same roots may also cause accessibility problems for maintenance or repairs. You can generally plant vegetation with non-invasive root systems, low-growing vegetation, and flower beds near gas lines. 

While trees can grow in the curb strip between the sidewalk and the street, this placement often poses the problem of interfering with overhead power lines. It’s best to consult your local utility provider and tree planting service before transplanting a tree that might grow into power lines. Also, you should never work within 20 feet of a live power line to avoid the risk of electric shock. Tree branches should never touch nearby power lines, so it’s essential to ensure your tree isn’t in danger of growing too close to them.