How to garden safely around utility cables

In the UK, utility strikes caused by digging damage tens of thousands of underground pipes and cables every year.

According to UK Power Networks, around 60,000 accidental strikes occur annually, and they can cause anything from broadband outages to gas leaks and serious injury. Everyday DIY jobs like fencing, decking, and even planting trees account for a large proportion of these incidents.

Hitting underground cables while gardening is dangerous and expensive. It can cause power cuts, gas leaks, burst water mains, and loss of internet services. In the worst cases, it can be life-threatening. Even tree roots have been known to damage protective casings and knock out supplies for entire streets.

We have done this ourselves. When digging up our old driveway to lay the hardcore for the new one, we hit the main gas cable. My husband realised very quickly and alerted the right people to come and fix it. He would never have hit the pipe if it had been buried according to regulations, but in this instance, it was much nearer to the surface than it should have been.

All the gas on our road had to be turned off while the pipe was replaced. Oops.

Speaking from my own experience, I’d like to show you how you can plan and plant safely around cables and pipework so you can design a beautiful outdoor space without putting yourself or your neighbours at risk.

 

Plan before you plant

Safe gardening starts with planning, before you even pick up a spade or buy a single plant. With a clear layout and some early checks, even a novice can avoid dangerous mistakes.

Sketch your garden layout

Impulse planting often leads to messy, hard-to-maintain gardens. A base plan keeps things organised and makes it easier to spot potential risks.

Here’s how to make one:

• Obtain a site plan of your property (ask your solicitor if you don’t have one, or try your local council)
• Draw your own version on graph paper if needed, marking buildings, fences, patios, doors, and windows
• Note the orientation of the garden (north, south, etc.)
• Add in existing features such as sheds, paths, or trees.

This base plan will help you decide where to position new features like beds, patios, or trees, while being mindful of what’s below ground.

 

Locate all the important underground utilities

Your garden may sit on top of a hidden network of gas pipes, electricity cables, water mains, sewers, and broadband lines. Locating them before you dig is essential.

How to find underground cables

• Use the free LSBUD service (Line Search Before U Dig). This tells you which utilities may be present on or near your property
• Contact the individual utility companies (gas, electricity, water, broadband) for maps or guidance
• Remember: public records may not show private lines, such as power feeds to sheds or old drainage pipes. For these, you may need a private utility surveyor with specialist detection equipment. Search for “private utility locating near me” or use services like BHUG to ensure all underground lines are accounted for.

 

Safe digging practices

Once you know where your services are, take extra care when working nearby.

• Use hand tools within 50cm of a marked line. Rounded shovels are safer than pointed spades.
• Dig at an angle, parallel to the service, rather than straight down.
• Avoid deep holes close to marked cables or pipes. Keep at least 60cm away where possible.
• Consider raised beds or containers to avoid unnecessary digging.
• Use removable surfaces (like gravel paths or pavers) rather than permanent concrete. This makes future access easier.

 

How to choose plants and structures

When it comes to planting near underground services, shallow-rooted plants are your safest bet.

Ornamental grasses such as Stipa and Festuca are excellent choices, adding movement and texture to your garden without the risk of roots spreading too deeply. Low-growing ground covers like creeping thyme or ajuga can fill in borders or gaps between paving stones, creating a lush look while staying surface-level.

You can see our ajugas in the front of the border in our garden. They have beautiful purple flowers in the spring, and act as great groundcover to keep weeds away year-round.

Perennials such as lavender, hardy geraniums, and heuchera are also ideal, offering long-lasting colour and interest without putting buried pipes or cables at risk.

Even everyday culinary herbs like chives, parsley, and mint are suitable, though mint should be planted in pots or contained beds, as it tends to spread vigorously.

Large, deep-rooted trees are a very different story. Species such as willows, poplars, oaks, silver birch, and horse chestnut are notorious for their aggressive root systems.

These trees can easily stretch into drains, crack water pipes, and disturb electricity or broadband cables. In fact, according to Thames Water, tree root intrusion is responsible for around 10% of all blockages in the UK sewer network.

Repairing damage caused by invasive roots can run into thousands of pounds, not to mention the inconvenience of lost services or emergency call-outs.

With this in mind, it’s best to keep larger trees well away from any known service routes. If you’re set on planting a tree, choose smaller, slower-growing species with non-invasive roots, and always position them at a safe distance from where pipes and cables are likely to be running.

Structures and hard landscaping

• Never build directly over service lines. Leave access routes clear.
• Check with your local authority before building fences, patios, or sheds near known service routes.
• Use modular paving instead of poured concrete for patios, so utilities can be accessed if needed.

 

Gardening is one of the most rewarding ways to improve your home, but it comes with responsibilities. Beneath your lawn and borders lies the infrastructure that keeps your house and community running.

Safe gardening is about working smarter. By checking what’s underground, planning ahead, and choosing plants and structures wisely, you’ll avoid costly accidents and create a garden that thrives for years to come.