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Hiding those utility boxes. . .

16 years ago

Hi all-

Thanks for the inspiration in the past. Any of you have pics or ideas of artful things that you have done to hide phone boxes etc in your garden. Curbside at where will be the end of our rain garden we have an electric cover (a foot round low to the ground thing) - ladybug?, a telephone tower (one of those 8" square by 2 foot tall things (stumped), and an aluminum light pole which is currently surrounded by a climbing something- but gets bare in the winter. Would like soften these things or turn them into something cute. TIA, Tom

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Comments (7)

goldenpond
16 years ago
Is your light pole decorative or plain? I have seen them painted a soft gold then with brown made it look like a stalk of bamboo. I too have uglies to hide including a telephone pole in the middle of the yard.I am growing flame vine up it and people say oh no it will get out of control.GOOD.
Could you paint or tatouage on the box or do you hink the utilities company would have your hide.Sometimes they need them to stick out like a sore thumb so they can find it. But I am with you. Lets cammy the stuff!
TxMarti
16 years ago
I have 3! electric poles in my backyard & I planted shrubs in front of them. If the electric company ever needs to get to them, they can cut back the shrubs. They'll grow back.
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I have found that AC units in particular require balance between hiding vs. drawing even more attention. I tried some wood panels but by the time I included proper spacing for air circulation and the introduction of new color/material, it seemed to look like I had created a worse problem with a big wooden behemoth. Did not look like the marketing photos! Of course, something custom-designed and made would have worked better, as the exact measurements and materials make a difference. Also tried some container plants but found that I had created "clutter" that was more disturbing than the unit. I still think there are ways to disguise, but it is so site-specific as to whether it improves the look or not. So I too, am back to the idea that many of these items can or do become "invisible" by their ubiquity in the landscape. Similar to planting the telephone or utility pole--better to leave it and to plant a climber somewhere you want to emphasize. I did learn something on the previous thread on this issue, from one of the regulars here (I forgot who!) re: paying attention to the color of the object and using that to advantage--in my case, as in the example, the funny cool bluish gray of the units--is leading me to select some surrounding plants OR containers that blend in better and transition to the neighboring plantings. Also to use "fuzzy" (meaning blurring) vegetation and not rigid screening. So what I have learned for my particular areas is that I was focusing on this too much, perhaps responding too much to marketing of "disguise this ugly area" to the detriment of more important landscape issues and of having fun with what I've got, and it looks better in my yard to unclutter these utility-type areas, keep them functional, and create something nice nearby.
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kattydid
16 years ago
The phone box you cav probally build a bird house with a door,
TwoMonths
16 years ago
Most utility companies or neighhood policy keep you from altering the look of the actual item. But you can make a corner or U shaped picket fence to soften them...One that can be pulled up if they have to do big work on the utilities. I have seen a headboard cut in half and put together to make a corner fence. You might make a box and decorate like a birdhouse or firehouse or fairy house and set over the small utilities, but label them with a sign saying what is under them. DO NOT cover a fire hydrant.
goldenpond
16 years ago
Hey I have seen some CUTE fire hydrant people.The top is their little hats!
tomplum
Original Author
16 years ago
SOme neat ideas here! I'm not afraid to paint/ decorate them-
I think the bird house idea is really neat. My cat may think so too! I'll try and think vertically and maybe a short cornery kinda fence would be a great answer also. Prolly decide to plant something on that end anyways. I saw the electric cover as a turtle earlier. No hydrants to worry about. Hmmmm.. .
nonacook
16 years ago
That brings to mind the 'Alice in wonderland' garden. It started with some one wanting to hide utility stuff. Does anyone else remember that? I know I have it on my favorites list-maybe someone else could find it quicker that I can--my list is Looong.

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