How to get vines off of a telephone / utility pole.

Vines and vegetation on telephone or utility poles can cause big problems. They can work their way into electrical components, damage parts, and create a variety of issues. Also vines can make it difficult and unsafe for a lineman to work on that pole. So what's the best way to remove these vines?

NOTE: This guide is for Linemen &, utility workers, and professionals. If that doesn't sound like you, then please reach out to your utility or electric company.

The Deviner DV-1, created by Madi Tools, is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get vines off of a utility pole. This two prong claw-like tool is made from fiberglass reinforced nylon so it's non-conductive yet strong. It can withstand up to 100K volts and has a 300 lb hanging & compression proof load. The Madi Deviner can be attached to the end of a hot stick. You can even use the Madi Double Header tool attachment so you can keep 2 tools on your hot stick.

PICTURE: Madi Deviner tool.

Once the deviner is securely connected to a hot stick you can extend it all the way to the top of the vines and pull down. It's best to apply consistent downward force. Yanking or applying a lot of pressure suddenly could damage equipment or parts. Most vines will come off easily. You could also attach the tool upside down so you could apply upward force on some stubborn vegetation.

Surprisingly enough, the Madi Deviner is one of the only tools available to get the job done. There are other tools that can be retrofitted to remove vines from poles, but we can't safely recommend them because they are not purpose built for the job. Other resources online have suggested cutting the vine / growth at the base of the telephone pole or using weed killer. This is a much longer process that may kill the vegetation but there's no guarantee it will come down off of the pole anytime soon.

PICTURE: The Madi Deviner tool at the end of a hotstick, in use by a utility worker.