houssaon First check with the power company for restrictions. If this is your view out the street I would just plant a few strategically placed bushes between your line of sight and the utility boxes. You could add a screen:
Erica Smith_Bouc I have something similar (but smaller) in the front yard of my current house. I found a large hollowed out log that has a beautiful grain pattern on it. My husband cut it in half, and I placed it between the box and my house, so it's still easily accessible, but I don't have to look at it. I love the idea of the screen fence shown above!
Buzz Garrett Unfortunately, the power company in SC says 'no permanent structures or plantings within 10 feet". Thankfully mine is the back yard...I still built a barn 10 feet and 1 inch away between me and them...yes we have 3.
I think if you check your deed you will find that is a utility easement. That means that land and that box belong to whatever utility placed it there.
In the Spring, you certainly can plant a row, or island, or screen of shrubs, small trees, flowers, bulbs, etc. But there is probably a set distance you have to be away from the box.
If you have questions, there is usually a phone number on a label somewhere on the box - or just call the Customer Service number of whatever utility it belongs to.
arlendau I am wondering if you could get by with some tall grasses? They grow quickly and cover a lot of area. Also, if the permanent/planting thing is an issue with your zoning, maybe you could position some large concrete planters in the general area - though not easy to move, they are not permanent. And lastly, you may be able to level the ground back toward the house 10', build a wall and fill over the wall to raise the level of the lawn so your view out the front is somewhat improved (lawn higher than box). I hope someone comes up with a good idea, this is an issue for a lot of homes.
Kristi Dodson_Skinkis I have that ugly box in my front yard too! My yard is part of a 4-plex, it is quite a bit smaller than yours and I have trees. I am trying to find pics! What the lady that lived her before me did was enclose it within a flower garden. Basically, pull up the grass and put in a border on the ground so the grass doesn't grow into the flowers. She chose plants that were different heights. I was surprised that the eye doesn't immediately track to the box. I have added more, my attitude is the more flowers the better! (Less lawn to mow!) Taller things closer to the box. Empress Wu Hostas or "Elephant Ears" can make it blend, My son has planted sunflowers. You have to be careful with those though, their roots are thick and grow deep. The wires that go to my box are only about 18" below ground. Cable and phone lines are only about a foot deep. One thing that I would like to do is put in a trellis and plant Clematis. Unpainted, wood trellis is as cheap as 15$ a panel at Home Depot. Make sure that you know which way the box opens so, it work has to be done your plants aren't ruined. Call Diggers Hotline before you start too! (dial 411) The wires placement may change your plans. If you choose to put in flowers look for them wholesale. MUCH less expensive!
eztia I agree with custom Home Planning center. Cover the box with a faux boulder. You might look at other spaces much farther away or on the opposite side of the yard to landscape with a boulder or large rocks to make a rock garden, so the "lone" rock over the utility box is not so stark.
I doubt the utility company would be pleased to find their box painted like a Hobbit house or a Gnome house.
Glenna Partridge Garden Design Here in Vancouver I have noticed some of these utility boxes disguised with decals that look like plants. It helps the ugly box blend in and the box is still functional. I'm not sure if this is something that could be proposed to your city council...here's a link to an article that might spark an idea. Maybe you could commission a decal to be placed on the box?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/1927340/.html
Lori Sahlin My friends neighborhood is very social, one built a table and benches to go over the box; so they have a place to sit and visit while the children play and ride bikes.
Stamps Design Services I saw some plastic "fencing" units at a store (like HomeDepot or Lowes) they fit together and are designed to help hide things like this. There are free standing (so no digging) and remove easily so the utility company can access the box as needed. After checking with them, you could then place plants, grasses or shrubs in front of the fencing. I put a couple of pictures up to show you examples.
lc29 The first house I bought after I was divorced had an electrical box in the front yard. Luckily the setback for plantings wasn't as large as yours, but your yard looks larger than mine was so it's all relative. We used two sections of rail fence to define the corner, planted a lovely blue spruce between the house and the box that would be large enough to hide the box from view from the house and added some dogwood bushes (kousa?) and other plantings between the fencing and the box to hide it from view from the street. I had a great landscaper that designed it all.
Ross NW Watergardens A nice screen with horizontal slats between your view and the box would help. Some accent plantings could make the area one of the nicer parts of your landscape.
silverscreenstar sclawson, with all due respect, NOT "everybody has one". I won't buy a property with a utility box in the yard. This is our fourth home. Not one of them had one of these dreadful boxes. I'm a former Realtor, now retired. Something to think about BEFORE making your Offer of Purchase and Sale.
astraea My area just went thru Hurricane Sandy, and there's nothing so "pretty" as an intact utility pole, with the transformer & lots of wires attached to it! I get a little peeved when people make such a big deal over utility-related structures, and that they're "ugly"; be glad that they're functional. And please listen to all the wise comments here about checking with your town & the utility, as far as what you can/can't do around those boxes.
Womansong Traditions Living in Loveland Colorado we enjoy artists' work on electrical boxes. Perhaps your town could do this also - http://www.cityofloveland.org/index.aspx?page=802 Absolutely delightful!
Designs for all seasons My advice is to ignor it and to design something really beautiful in another part of your front garden - perhaps a bold curve of planting that leads your eye towards the front door of your house. The idea is to distract your eye from the offending box and draw attention to something you do like.
I don't know if you could move your letter box away from it as this might help too. You may find that screening the box just draws more attention to it.
Sorry if this language is very English - I hope it makes sense!
RJM Design Inc. Tough to hide 'em, so why not enjoy them cleverly! Grab an image of an outlet off the internet, enlarge to fit onto four (4) pieces of paper, print each page onto 8.5 x 11 clear sticky-back decal sheets (available at office supply stores for less than $20) and slap onto the middle of each offending face of the utility box. You'll be surprised at how many folks smile as they pass it, and comment on how you made "lemonade" out of lemons! :) Enjoy.
astraea @RJM Design - It's probably illegal to attach anything to these electrical connections boxes, and will be removed the next time a utility vehicle passes by.
Danielle Davis I would not plant or put anything around or near it. Just try to block your view of it. My husband works for the electric company here in CA and anything you put around it will more then likely be removed.
RJM Design Inc. @astrea and @Danielle Davis: Thanks for the responses! A previous responder above (Womansong Traditions in Loveland, Colorado) posted a great link showing how out there they applied some pretty cool painted art to their boxes. Certainly worth confirming with your local utility :)
This ha sworked great for us over the past 10 years. Has not invaded anything. Kept in its own bed between five to 10 feet away from utility box. Locally, five feet away is the restriction.
astraea @RJM Designs - This is from one particular utilty, whose material I found quickly online: http://www.csu.org/residential/safety/Pages/utilityboxes.aspx. My guess is that they don't want people painting them, because that means it's harder for their crews to check out their condition, as they drive by.
Murray Lampert Construction You need to check with your local utility. I doubt if they will allow you to build a structure above it and i am sure there needs to be clearance around the perimeter for technicians. You may be able to build a low fence or wall around the box as long as proper clearance is maintained.
Media Decor Whatever you do, be prepared for the power company to rip it out or charge you to repaint it. They own it and have a legal easement. Sorry to be a party pooper, but power companies in general hate people messing around their electrical boxes.
Murray Lampert Construction Yes, utility companies are very possessive of their power boxes. Look at the bright side, it's better than overhead power lines and transformers.
Ramona tall grass as far away as need be. mine stands upright all winter. i wish i had thought to put it in front of some the weird boxes i have. they were totally misplaced in my yard in two places instead of one. i am frustrated but dealing with lots of other issues so getting them camoflauged doesn't get high priority.
KMZ Landscape Design Nine times out of ten when a person tries to hide something like a transformer or a power pole they just end up drawing attention to it. Try creating a planting bed that will instead draw attention to your front door; and if you really feel that you need to hide the transformer and post box stand then create a large planting that will anchor the whole corner of your property. Go for a mix of evergreen shrubs and perennials - please not just a screen and a hedge. Good luck.
Mackin Drafting & Design I would have to agree with KMZ Landscape Design. Whatever you do should not be in connection to the electrical box alone but as part of a broader plan that incorporates the rest of the property. It would be a good idea to contact the utility company. I am sure they will tell you right up front what you can and cannot do. Good luck!
dbruna I planted Mountain Laurel bushes and variegated lirope grass around an identical box. The power company needs access to the front of the box from the street. My bushes are strategically placed in a way the power company agreed to. It softens the appearance of the box. My overall landscaping draws attention to the front door.
designideas4me I personally have been searching through many contemporary panel and fence ideas to put in front of a palm tree these people who just moved in behind me put on thier side of my fence. Its right in the middle of my kitchen window maybe 12 feet away just past my pool. I am pissed. They have 12000 sq ft lot and I have half of that and yet they wont move it. So anyway I may build a trellis and I have these huge rose vines that I can attach to the trellis. Your lucky cuz unlike this palm tree, your box wont grow taller every day.
milfw4kids Funny!!! I painted the one in my front yard. A greenish color then planted tall grasses around it. I did not call the company. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission sometimes.
astraea @milfw4kids - I hope nothing ever happens with that box, or power in your neighborhood, because if they have trouble finding your camouflaged electrical box, you may be facing a fine rather than forgiveness .. and your neighbors won't be happy either.
silverscreenstar I think the local hydro company knows where they installed THEIR boxes so it's not something I would worry about. I would be concerned that the utility company would just remove benches, shelves, boxes, etc put there by the homeowner in an attempt to obscure the box(es) from view, and have the cost of the removal added to the homeowner's property tax account. That's the way it's done here (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). From their perspective, it makes sense because they work 9-5, like everyone else, unless it's an emergency. So, that is when they do their drive-bys, to make sure THEIR equipment is in good repair. That is when most of us work too, so knocking on our doors and having a polite (or otherwise) conversation is usually neither possible nor practical.
milfw4kids They gave been out to do some work. I went out and talked to them. They laughed. Thank goodness. They said you would not believe what some people do. The paint and grass was perfect!
silverscreenstar You are fortunate. That scenario would be highly improbable here. Weather is either too hot or too cold for both sides to hold their tempers (joke).
never2muchbex I have one like that. I found a very large planter, put it on top and planted trailing annuals in it. In the winter you could try the faux pine pieces and do a makeshift bush around it. Granted the company who owns it doesnt fine you.
silverscreenstar Sorry, but I really don't like the appearance of this plastic, fake, "rock" anymore than I like the look of the unencumbered utility box. I also believe that it"s the wrong shape to help in the present situation where the utility box has a much larger base, and is flatter, rather than narrower and higher.
lilhoffy99 Well, I plan on the risk that they can do what they want to the plants or structure and I did call they said no perminate structure. We could easily design something removable and idf they ruin it, we can replace it. I am not too concerned about that. But turn it into a garden area maybe?
jagood We have a BIG one next to our driveway gate (rural area) but that's the price we pay for not having overhead lines and poles, which I think are much uglier and more easily damaged in storms. So I guess one way of looking at it is to be thankful we have some ugly green boxes in our yards......
However, to answer the question posted - the overall plan of the landscaping can be done in such a way that the focus of attention goes elsewhere and then one hardly notices those boxes. I would take a drive through neighborhoods where these are located (and while these isn't snow on the ground) and note the ones that stand out vs the ones that are barely noticed, and try to figure out why.
cyn222 Check with utility company regarding use of easement area for planting, structures before doing anything else. I would just install a fence in front of it and landscape around it. Use some plants that won't require pruning and enjoy.
lilhoffy99 It was very much considered in the purchase of our home, and I did not think that it was a big issue, in the Corner of the yard with a huge evergreen in front of it. We removed the tree, I thought that was more of an eyesore and blocked the house. Now step two.
lilhoffy99 I think I may make a garden around, a tree in front several feet, with the screen that doubles as a faux planter box and just set a potted plants on top. The screen I will do so they are hinged like gate doors. I will use those cement post blocks so i do not even have to put it in the ground. Thats within the regs(no permanent structure) and should be cheap enough that i can replace if there is an issue. A bench facing the house like it was planned. I have till spring to secede
silverscreenstar I think KMZ Landscape Design (above) said it better that I can, but basically, the more stuff you do to try and hide the box, the more the eye will be drawn to it. I think it would be better to ignore the box and create a diversion away from it by making an eye catching statement elsewhere on your property, a good distance away from the box.
andoy12 Install just one freestanding fence panel that stands away from it, but covers the sight of the box ... the fence can be a design feature in itself.
Shelton Sound Design I planted grasses with room to work if needed. The guys said they really didn't care because if they needed they would cut them down.
easy to pick up and move when they need to service the nox
I think if you check your deed you will find that is a utility easement. That means that land and that box belong to whatever utility placed it there.
In the Spring, you certainly can plant a row, or island, or screen of shrubs, small trees, flowers, bulbs, etc. But there is probably a set distance you have to be away from the box.
If you have questions, there is usually a phone number on a label somewhere on the box - or just call the Customer Service number of whatever utility it belongs to.
I doubt the utility company would be pleased to find their box painted like a Hobbit house or a Gnome house.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/1927340/.html
I don't know if you could move your letter box away from it as this might help too. You may find that screening the box just draws more attention to it.
Sorry if this language is very English - I hope it makes sense!
This ha sworked great for us over the past 10 years. Has not invaded anything. Kept in its own bed between five to 10 feet away from utility box. Locally, five feet away is the restriction.
However, to answer the question posted - the overall plan of the landscaping can be done in such a way that the focus of attention goes elsewhere and then one hardly notices those boxes. I would take a drive through neighborhoods where these are located (and while these isn't snow on the ground) and note the ones that stand out vs the ones that are barely noticed, and try to figure out why.