Consider these clever camouflages for an ugly utility box
Utility boxes are just that: utilitarian. While they’re necessary around the home, they can be an eyesore amongst your healthy green grass and carefully curated flower beds. Luckily, you’re not stuck looking at that blemish in your landscaping. Read our nine tips to learn how to hide the transformer box in your yard and make it work with the rest of your outdoor space.
It’s not always likely, but service technicians may need to access your utility box. In case of an emergency, they won’t be gentle with any plantings in the way. To avoid tragedy to your plants but you want to hide the transformer box in your yard, consider mobile landscaping ideas for easy access to the utility box. Accessories such as potted plants, gates, and wheeled displays are as beautiful as they are easy to move. Be sure to check with your utility company or on the box itself to learn of any blockage restrictions.
Fences look lovely and do a great job of obscuring whatever is behind them. If you aren’t looking at the other side, you can place two adjoining fences at an angle to avoid completely obstructing the utility box. If you surround the box completely with fencing, be sure to add an outward-swinging gate to keep the box accessible.
Different types of fences also make a beautiful and classic backdrop to other front and backyard landscaping elements. Consider planting tall flowers or ornamental grasses for an extra layer of obscurity and visual interest.
Potted plants are versatile, beautiful, and easy to move if a technician needs access to the utility box. Best of all, they come in all shapes and sizes, so they’re perfect for fine-tuning a custom arrangement that perfectly fits your space. Consider these thick, vibrant varieties:
Arborvitae (Thuja)
Bamboo (Bambusoideae)
Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca)
Boxwood (Buxus)
Contact a top-rated landscaper near you to determine which plants work best for your home.
If you must leave a buffer around your utility box, look for rock landscaping ideas to make the transition more seamless next to your plantings. There are endless varieties to suit your existing setup. Anything from small pebbles to larger rocks works beautifully.
If you’re not into the look of multiple pots, pick out long, rectangular planters and create a seamless (yet mobile) border around your utility box. Fill these with tall flowers and ornamental grasses, or try one of the thick, lush varieties listed above.
If you don’t want your utility box to stick out like a sore thumb, conceal it amongst plants with a variety of different colors, heights, and textures. The visual interest will detract from the box and make a charming addition to your existing landscaping. Or pay for the cost of a landscape designer to discuss which plants will create the yard of your dreams. It’s a win-win.
If you’re on the hunt for a landscape idea to hide this utility box problem, tall grasses make a hardy and low-maintenance landscaping idea. These will grow thick and lush, easily blocking out the ugly metal.
Always check your plant’s USDA hardiness zone rating to ensure it will thrive in your area’s climate. Here are a few lively varieties to consider:
Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)
Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana)
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis)
Fountain grass (Pennisetum)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
You can’t go wrong with a lattice. They’re tall, aesthetically pleasing, and make gorgeous backdrops for climbing plants. They also look great as a single standalone wall, so they’re an excellent landscaping idea to avoid blocking the utility box. Here are some plants to adorn them with:
Morning glory (Convolvulaceae)
Wisteria (Fabaceae)
Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)
Ivy (Hedera)
Jasmine (Jasminum)
Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae)
Clematis (Ranunculaceae)
Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
Trellises are tall, visually pleasing, and come in a huge variety of ornate designs. Just like a trellis, they work well as a standalone element in your landscaping. They also take the same gorgeous climbing plants, just with a different style of backdrop. Learn how much trellis installation prices are.
