you could get in trouble IF they caught you intentionally growing the vine. but if it grows wild they cannot do anything to you. ;) worst case is they cut it down next time they do maintenance on the pole. but honestly the only time i have seen any utility do that was when they had to climb the pole instead of use a bucket truck. if they can get it with the bucket, then they just let the vines go for several years.

Many moons ago, as children, street smarts taught us that you only got in trouble if you got caught.

Now...you do not have ownership of the light pole, correct? It's likley that either your community or the local power company has that ownership. And it's just as likely that they really wouldn't appreciate having vines growing on their poles, as that just becomes a maintenance headache and a nuisance for them, especially when the vines start to wrap around the light fixture. They'll be just as likely to cut it down as soon as they notice it...and charge you for the time if they know you planted the vine.

Personally, I think I'd stay away from that kind of beautification project.

I dunno--I've never done it, but at our former residence an elderly neighbor used to train Heavenly Blue morning glories up a utility pole. She just had to be OK wih the idea that, if needed, the utility company would pull them down. (I don't think they ever did.) She used to staple fishing line fairly high on the pole, and then anchor it in the ground. (Not sure how she anchored the fishing line.) Then she would plant MG's at the base of the fishing line. They would twirl their way up to the top of the fishing line--and then stop. The effect was weird--and lovely at the same time. Looked better than the "lost cat/dog/yard sale handbills that usually get stapled to utility poles around here.

To my knowledge, the utility company never complained...perhaps because it was an annual, and not nearly so troublesome as the kudzu they are used to dealing with! She passed away a few years ago...and I know people still miss the MG's.

As my husband says--it's easier to get forgivenss than permission. What's the worst thing that can happen? They'll fuss at you and take it down.

melanie

Depending on the type of fixture and vigor of the vine, this practice could cause problems in the operation of the circuit(s) if vine tendrils seek out cracks to grow into. I doubt morning glories would pose any hazard, but I also don't think I'd want to invest time and labor in training a vine up a utility pole, knowing that it was likely to be torn down by the next crew coming through the area.

Eric--

I think that's why she used MG's. There wasn't any TRAINING involved--the sum total of effort was stinging the fishing line and planting the seeds. Oh, and she squirted miracle grow on them on occaision. MG's just went up the fishing line on their own...

You have a good point about the circuits. I guess that's one reason why kudzu is such an issue down here!

melanie

I'm with treebeard. You should ask first. Do you have kids? I would be concerned that they saw me doing something that would teach them, "it's only wrong if you get caught" or "it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission." Sorry, but those concepts can lead to our kids destroying things that *we* end up paying for - and later down the line, can land them in jail. Today we're growing vines up the city's light poll and tomorrow they are tagging a local highway overpass because it's *art*

...ok, i'm off my soapbox now. : )

From a design standpoint, I would rather plant something really cool on the ground to get people's eyes to stay there. If you plant something going up the lightpoll, then you draw people's eyes up and away from your house.

I'm not totally opposed to stealth gardening, but the photo of the light pole is, uh, not very attractive. To MY amateur eye, anyway. Amateur expert's idea of "something really cool on the ground" might look better. Or mel's morning glories. Something permanent, clingy, and destructive such as algerian ivy would be pretty evil.

"stealth gardening"

I love it! Do you wear black and a face mask and go out at night? Who was that masked gardener? Hi-ho, silver mound artemisa, away!

Patty

I missed the pic--yeah, that IS evil. That's a power outage waiting to happen! The morning glories were temporary--I would NEVER advocate a permanent vine on a light pole. And I wasn't completely serious about "It's easier to get permission than forgivenes..." just can't see what harm a bunch of morning glories would do.

I don't really MIND light poles, myself. I think we are so used to seeing them that they "disappear"--our brains just discount them or something. Same with green utility boxes.

melanie

After looking at the picture link, can I suggest that you actually remove the vine altogether? Here's why: t-poles, guy wires, utility risers, etc., which are always in the public view, tend to dissappear, as Melanie wrote, because people are used to them. They become very prominent when highlighted, or featured, with the use of vines. Can I suggest more massing of plants at the base with contrasting heights and color so as to detract from the pole and force the ground plane into the viewer's perspective? Good luck.

Rick

I can't remove this vine, I took this picture in another neighborhood when I was looking for landscaping ideas. I don't need to grow a vine persay. I just want to landscape near the pole because it is difficult to mow the area because of the ditch in front of the pole that is in my yard. I want to lasagna the area and plant I will skip the vine that might get me in trouble. This is a full sun area. What would you plant?
Kelli

Utility companies don't like anything on the poles for good reason: they can cause problems when the utility workers have to climb the pole. That's why yard sale signs, plants, etc. are supposed to be off-limits. They use cherry-pickers a lot now so climbing the pole may not be an issue but I still wouldn't plant a vine.

Anything you plant is subject to trampling if they do have to work on that pole. I'm with those that wouldn't plant around it -- just draws attention to the pole -- but it sounds like you have good reason to get rid of the grass. If you want to plant around it, try some of the tougher perennials, low-growing (less than 3')and long-blooming to keep the eye near the ground and not draw it up the pole. If you're planting out away from the pole as well, try mixing in some ornamental grasses/non-invasive groundcovers. I'd keep it very simple (just a few kinds of plants). You didn't mention size of the area or other things you'd like to include/exclude (color, maintenance level, etc.) so it's kind of hard to recommend more than that.

Good luck with your project!