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Some trees will bounce back just fine, and others will struggle and possibly die. Evergreens, for instance, have a very difficult time recovering after droughts and usually die after periods of extreme dryness. Usually, you’ll have to just wait and see—if the drought occurs in wintertime, it’s possible that your tree will recover during the gentler springtime.

Cutting down a tree next to power lines is never a DIY job, and it’s a good idea to contact your utility company first. In most cases, the utility company will need to take care of any tree problems within 10 to 15 feet of power lines. If you want to remove the tree for aesthetic reasons, hire a pro to do the job. Trying to cut trees near power lines yourself can create many safety hazards, and you could be liable if you inadvertently cause damage to electrical equipment.

Your local government is usually in charge of pruning trees on public property, and the power company is responsible for trees near power lines (even if they’re on your property). Whether or not they top these trees depends on their approach to pruning. You won’t be able to do much to control this, but you can contact them to find out more about their pruning process.

You should avoid cutting off the top of mature cherry trees. This process is called tree topping, and it’s not recommended for cherry trees—or any trees, for that matter. Tree topping removes between one-third to half of the length of the tree trunk, resulting in structurally unsound, fruitless suckers. The only exception is for saplings. Young pie, sour, and tart cherry trees that are over 30 inches tall in the fall or winter before the tree blooms can benefit from heading cuts.