How to Hide Utility Boxes

Most utility boxes--heavy, gray, ugly--aren't made with the beauty of your yard in mind, and although they are necessary, they can be an eyesore to the well-manicured lawn. And if you aren't lucky enough to have the utility box hidden in the back yard and out of sight of the neighbors, it can be a very frustrating predicament. But, if you're just the littlest bit creative and handy in the garden, you can take that unattractive utility box and hide it completely, or even make it a focal point of your landscape.

Instructions

1. Plant bushes around the utility box to conceal it. Choose large varieties with full foliage that will grow at least to the height of the utility box. You will also want to make sure to pick a variety that can stand up to any heat that your utility box might give off. Plant the bushes as close together as you can--the right bushes will conceal the utility box altogether. Don't plant the plants too close to the utility box itself. In the event that the utility company needs to get to the boxes, they may make you remove the bushes if they are too close. If you are not sure how far away the bushes need to be planted, contact your local utility company office.

2. Plant herbaceous plants around the utility box to conceal it. Wildflower.org recommends the following varieties: Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed), Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (shrubby cinquefoil), Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower), Euphorbia corollata (flowering spurge), Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. John's Wort), Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot). These are tall, brightly colored and bushy specimens that will work well to hide a utility box.

3. Cover it with a faux rock utility box cover like the one on Brookstone.com. These are artificial, rock-like hollow structures that completely cover your utility box and make it disappear! The Thermostone surface is natural-looking, but light enough that you can easily pick it up and move it if you need to. You can plant small shrubs and flowers to complement your new rock landscape.

4. Put a trellis screen in front of the utility box and plant flowers or vines that will grow and spread along it. This is a beautiful way to conceal your utility box while creating a focal piece for your garden. Choose brightly colored roses, or quickly growing ivy. You can put a trellis on one or all sides of the box, depending on your needs. Again, be conscious of the placement of the trellis so that it is not too close to the utility box.

References

• Wildflower.org: Plants to plant around utility boxes
• Brookstone: Faux Landscaping Rock Pump and Utility Box Covers
• Garden Web forum: Utility box -- How to make it disappear!