HIde Green Utility Boxes

bobby1973

9 years ago

Hi folks - I recently moved into a newly constructed home and out of the 4 houses in the culdesac, I had to be the one who got stuck with all those butt-ugly green electrical boxes on my property. I attached a photo of the right corner of my house that includes one of these green boxes. It actually looks more like a torpedo. Anyhow, I'm trying to sketch out ways to obscure them with plant material.The solution that I have come up with so far is to create a large circle/oval bed that incorporates the green structure. My plan would be to fill it with a collection of Ornamental Grasses and medium size boulders, to create a bit of a 'rock garden' appearance. I don't want to incorporate any colorful flowers into this bed because I don't want it to detract from the foundation beds and the background stone wall. I just want this bed to be peaceful, filled with plant material that will sway in the breeze. I'm thinking about placing a cluster of Blue Oats Grasses in the foreground of the bed, Muhley Grasses in the center, and Red-leaved Miscanthus towards the back end of the bed. I thought this would create a staggered collection of grasses with different textures and colors. I would love to hear of any alternative plant materials that any of you would select for this bed. Thank you kindly!

bobby

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Comments (8)

donn_
9 years ago
Since the grasses would only hide the utility box for part of the year, I would look for some evergreen shrubs instead. You could mix in some grasses for seasonal interest, but the shrubs would provide year-round screening.
bobby1973
Original Author
9 years ago
I hear where you're coming from Donn, but my plan is to retain the dead grass stalks through the winter and shear them only in early Spring. My hope is that this will keep the grasses looking interesting through the winter and of course continue to obscure that green utility box. The good thing about the Blue Oats Grasses is that they're evergreen in my area. So they'll serve as a good hedge year round. Thank you again for your feedback Donn!
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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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I think what I'm going to do is remove the sod around the 2 green utility boxes and just plant a few of the Blue Oats Grasses strategically in front of them, in their own bed. I'm not going incorporate the Dogwood Tree into the bed because it'll just be too big and awkward looking. My other concern is at the opposite corner of my house, where I have another green utility structure (see attached photo). This one looks like a 'torpedo':) The solution that I have come up with for this one is to create a large circle/oval bed that incorporates the green structure. My plan would be to fill it with a collection of Ornamental Grasses and medium size boulders, to create a bit of a 'rock garden' appearance. I don't want to incorporate any colorful flowers into this bed because I don't want it to detract from the foundation beds and the background stone wall. I just want this bed to be peaceful, filled with plant material that will sway in the breeze. I'm thinking about placing a cluster of Blue Oats Grasses in the foreground of the bed, Muhley Grasses in the center, and Red-leaved Miscanthus towards the back end of the bed. I thought this would create a staggered collection of grasses with different textures and colors. I would love to hear of any alternative plant materials that any of you would select for this bed. Thank you kindly! bobby
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I am not trying to talk you out of hydrangea in this spot for I am addicted to them and can't get enough, but if you are trying to hide this box, you will want to use a shrub that doesn't lose it leaves in the winter. I would look at loropetalum (either burgundy leaf or green leaf). They bloom a couple of times a year and give great color. They keep their leaves all winter. Perhaps look at putting a hydrangea along side this and get double pleasure from that spot. Here is a link that might be useful:
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Access to the box is important. If you are speaking about the box in the yard that is about 3x3 you may consider ornamental grass and perennials. Maybe a spirea, or some shrub that can be cut back to the ground if service is needed on the box. I believe they may be limits the utility co has on how close plants should be to the box. Leatherleaf VB get large 8x8 and often do loss their leaves in zone 6.
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User
9 years ago
Red Amaranth (prince's feather) would be especially lovely, and has a gorgeous color. Alternatively, some cattails or alliums would provide good movement.
bobby1973
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions Ninkasi. I'll look into those as well.

bobby
donn_
9 years ago
"The good thing about the Blue Oats Grasses is that they're evergreen in my area."

If you refer to Helictotrichon sempervirens, I grow quite a few of them, and they are only semi-evergreen in my warm zone 7. By the middle of winter, they are pretty ratty and matted messes, and I cut them back. Since they're cool season grasses, they come back quickly as spring comes in, but they're pretty short for a few months.

They don't get quite as bad as those in the link below, because I cut them back in mid-winter, but they're pretty bad.

Here is a link that might be useful: H. sempervirens after winter

This post was edited by donn_ on Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 15:09
TexasRanger10
9 years ago
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri is a big tall blueish grass that will grow in your zone. It has a vertical habit and doesn't necessarily have to be trimmed in spring. Its also known as 'Big Muhly' It grows fast with moisture but is very drought hardy too. Same goes with Muhlenbergia 'rigens' another big grass that has a different habit or you could do a grouping. If you really want to hide it, go big with Sacaton wrightii, its gorgeous in late afternoon sun. Each of these grow fast and will effectively hide that thing, no problem.
bobby1973
Original Author
9 years ago
awesome suggestions! thank you.
User
9 years ago
Of course you'll want to call the utility locator folks before digging anywhere near these boxes.

If you cut the lines you will be responsible for damages and repairs. If the wires are 'hot' or you hit gas lines, that could be a disaster.

HIde Green Utility Boxes

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