how do i hide utilities in my front yard

How to Hide Undesirable Utility Equipment With Landscape Design

• Design a special garden bed. A gorgeous garden can be designed to hide your utility box in your yard, but also give it...
• Incorporate screening. A wood lattice screen or trellis can be a great way to hide your utility box. If these next level...
• Use creatively placed containers. Another screen option is to...

Full Answer

How do you hide a utility box in your yard?

Depending on the size and shape of the utility box, an obelisk trellis can cover it nicely as well. 10.) Create a Natural Barrier Plants, trees, and flowers are great natural ways to hide or distract from eyesores out in the yard or on the house itself.

What are the best things to hide in your backyard?

Utility boxes, air conditioning units, lawnmowers, garbage bins and more; these are essential items, but we’d prefer not to look at them while spending time on our hard-earned green grass amongst lovely flowerbeds. So what do you do? We’ve prepared a list of outdoor eyesore hiding ideas to get you started on the path to backyard beauty.

How do you hide an eyesore on your property?

Create a Natural Barrier Plants, trees, and flowers are great natural ways to hide or distract from eyesores out in the yard or on the house itself. You can choose to plant them directly in the ground or in a planter. Planters are great for places like porches, patios, and decks where planting directly in the ground isn’t an option.

How to hide unsightly bins in your garden?

Plants or Trellis for Hiding Air Conditioning Units 2. Lovely Raised Planters Hide Unsightly Bins 3. Wooden Privacy Screens Come In All Sizes 5. Faux Rocks Cover Unsightly PVC Pipes 6. Pretty Planter Hides Garden Hoses 7. Lovely Cabinet Hides Utility Box and Garden Tools 8. Basic Cedar Screen For Hiding Bins 9.

How can I hide my outdoor utilities?

But there are ways to hide them safely by making some clever adjustments in your landscape.Cover Up a Transformer Box with Grasses. ... Plant Evergreen Shrubs to Hide an Electrical Box. ... Make a Screen Using a Decorative Fence. ... Cover Your Utility Box with a Fake Boulder.

How do you cover utility boxes in front yard?

The best way to hide a utility box in your yard is to utilise mobile or temporary covers – either around the whole unit, or one access area. Some approaches you can consider include: Using Potted Plants. A Trellis, Screen or Fence.

How can I make my front yard private?

These 7 yard privacy ideas —stacked from easy to hard — will help you cordon off your space and relax with a little more privacy.Make a Potted Screen. Hannamariah/ Getty images. ... Install a Faux Hedge. ... Grow a Hedge. ... Hang Drapes. ... Climb Plants on a Trellis. ... Grow a Vertical Garden. ... Put Up A Pergola.

What plants are good for hiding utility boxes?

Ways to Hide Utility Boxes Plant a fast-growing, flowering, vine-like clematis or trumpet vine to fill in the space and distract the eye. You can achieve the same effect by planting a row of shrubs or small trees.

What is the green plastic box in my yard?

Can I plant around the green box in my yard? You may have a green metal box near or in front of your home. These are called padmounted transformers and are a key part of the electrical system that delivers power to your home. They are only found in areas where electric service is buried underground.

How can I hide my electric meter in front of my house?

Paint, window shutters, cabinets, or a decorative gate are also easy ways to get the job done!Carefully Placed Plants.A Planter Wall.A Trellis with Climbing Plants.Cover It with an Outdoor Cabinet.Paint It to Match Your Home.Decorative Gate.Decorative Window Shutters.

How can I get privacy without a fence?

Cheap Backyard Privacy Fence IdeasUse Super-Sized Planters. Buy several large planters and fill them with tall, decorative grasses or flowers. ... Plant Trees Along Your Property. ... Build a Living Wall. ... Hang Outdoor Curtains Around Your Patio. ... Buy a Retractable Backyard Screen. ... Build a Privacy Screen. ... Put Up a Simple Lattice Fence.

How do you make a utility box cover?

0:085:48DIY UTILITY BOX COVERS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd make them disappear the first thing we need to do in order to make these utility box covers isMoreAnd make them disappear the first thing we need to do in order to make these utility box covers is mail everything down to size. So we're gonna do.

Can you plant bushes around utility boxes?

1:343:56How to Screen Large Utility Boxes With Plantings | This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNatural. Yes inkberry another native now what's so terrific about this is that it isn't evergreen.MoreNatural. Yes inkberry another native now what's so terrific about this is that it isn't evergreen. So in the winter. Time it will keep its leaves it will do a very good job of screening.

How do you hide a power box?

0:417:35How to Hide A Breaker Box - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I think if we do two evenly sized ones then we'll hang them on the wall. Right behind the TV it'MoreAnd I think if we do two evenly sized ones then we'll hang them on the wall. Right behind the TV it'll look more natural and then you won't even know that the electrical panel box is there.

Can I paint the utility box in my yard?

Any kind of painting directly onto the surface of a transformer box is not allowed and would be considered vandalism. Wraps that are approved by SMUD must be installed by vendors qualified to work around high voltage electrical equipment.

How do you make a utility box cover?

0:085:48DIY UTILITY BOX COVERS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd make them disappear the first thing we need to do in order to make these utility box covers isMoreAnd make them disappear the first thing we need to do in order to make these utility box covers is mail everything down to size. So we're gonna do.

Can you hide electrical boxes?

You are allowed to cover your electrical panel but it must be easy to open, can not interfere with the opening of the steel door of the panel and you have to make sure you have full access to all of the breakers. Keep in mind that some local electrical codes may prohibit the covering of your electrical panel.

Shed for Garbage Cans

Start by measuring your garbage cans. Lay one on its side on the ground in your yard to measure the width and height. The easiest way to get a shed is to order online from your nearest home store or build your own using an online guide with pieces of wood and a saw.

Wooden Fence for Rain Barrels

The best way to hide a utility such as a rain barrel from your yard is to build a small fence around it! First, measure the width and height, then buy fence wood to get started. You can also place vines on the fence or plant small shrubs at the bottom for decoration.

Tall Grasses & Plants for Air-Conditioning Unit Box

Plant tall ornamental grasses or taller plants to hide your air conditioning unit box! As a reminder, growing this type of tall grass takes about two seasons to fully mature. However, their fast-growing rate makes them ideal for hiding utilities! It’s best to grow the tallest grass for the most coverage in your yard.

Creeping Arctic Willow for Hiding an Electrical Box

Creeping Arctic Willow grows quickly and can efficiently hide electrical/cable utility boxes. Its bluish-green color blends in perfectly with your utility box, and its textured foliage adds interest to your yard. You can plant these shrubs in groups to ensure maximum coverage.

How to hide utility boxes?

Using Potted Plants To Hide Utility Boxes. Plants are a simple and effective way to hide a utility box. Rather than plant them directly into the ground – where they stand a chance of being destroyed – you might be able to plant in pots or containers instead. There are a few positives to this approach:

What to check on utility box?

You should always check the utility box to see if it has any warnings or notices written on it. Some utilities may be access to electrical transformers, for cable companies, or gas or water meters.

How to prevent pot theft?

As long as you can quickly untangle or remove it if you need to move some pots it should help prevent theft while allowing mobility. Or, just get really heavy pots and plants that are difficult for passers by to remove.

Why use man made screen?

The benefit of using a man-made screen is you can immediately build it to an appropriate height rather than wait years for plants to grow and provide coverage . If you do like this aesthetic, I’d suggest having a larger offset around your utility box than the example above.

Why do you need a minimum offset distance for a box?

Some boxes also need a minimum offset distance – with nothing in that space – to ensure they have suitable airflow during hot periods.

How to limit the spread of trees?

You could widen the hole you place the tree in and line it with a root barrier mesh/layer. This will work to restrict the spread of the roots, thereby limiting the size and spread of the trees.

What to do if you're limited with space?

If you’re limited with space, or don’t want to go to a huge amount of effort for the low probability that something may happen, opt to plant/place/cover/surround etc. the utility box with a cheaper collection of the ideas we’ve explored above.

How to hide trash cans?

Build a modern and beautiful cedar screen to hide your trash cans! Add your house numbers to give it another purpose. You could use this DIY cedar screen to hide all kinds of outdoor eyesores, from kids toys to pool equipment!

How to hide a sandbox?

Many people hide them by planting shrubs and other plants around them, but you could easily make a slipcover with beadboard and top it with a birdhouse.

What are some examples of outdoor items?

Some outdoor items are a necessary part of home living, but they don’t look so good out in the open. Water hoses and trash cans are two such examples. Here’s some great ideas how to hide them!

What is a louvered screen?

A louvered screen, built with the louvers fixed at an angle, works well in providing an AC unit adequate air ventilation . Plus, it looks so nice, especially when painted in white! This is a more permanent solution to hiding your AC unit.

Can you paint utility boxes?

Here’s an easy solution: paint your utility boxes and wires! It’s surprisingly effective and would work well for areas with stricter regulations.

Can you hide an AC unit?

AC units are bulky and they need a lot of airflow to work efficiently, so they can be difficult to hide. Enter the lattice screen! They are nice to look at, pretty easy to assemble, and provide plenty of airflow. Easy Lattice Screen to Hide an AC Unit | Heathered Nest for Remodelaholic.

Where to hide equipment on deck?

Another clever place to hide equipment is below your deck's staircase, the way Land Art Design did here. This hideaway functions as a tool shed that can handle taller equipment, and it doesn't take up any of your precious yard space.

Can you cover an air conditioner with climbers?

The thing about air conditioners: You can't cover them with real climbers, which could damage the equipment. But a faux bush made of recycled plastic? That's a plant it can handle! The TRiCC protective cover even tilts forward for easy access to the unit.

How to hide an AC unit?

There are a number of ways you can attempt to hide an ac unit – plant some bushes and flowers around the unit, diy a fence around it – but perhaps the fastest and easiest way to hide it is to use an outdoor privacy screen. Outdoor screens, like the resin wicker design shown below, can also help to cut down on noise as well, which is ideal when an outdoor entertaining space is located near the unit.

How to hide eyesores?

Plants, trees, and flowers are great natural ways to hide or distract from eyesores out in the yard or on the house itself. You can choose to plant them directly in the ground or in a planter. Planters are great for places like porches, patios, and decks where planting directly in the ground isn’t an option.

What is a garbage can shed?

A garbage shed is an outdoor storage shed that’s designed to store large outdoor garbage cans and recycling bins. These structures not only hide your garbage cans but they also keep them secure ...

What is an outdoor storage box?

An outdoor storage cabinet or deck box is perfect for containing and concealing clutter like pool chemicals and equipment or gardening tools that might otherwise be left out in plain view.

What to do with ugly pvc pipes?

If the plants themselves don’t disguise ugly pvc pipe s or well heads in a garden, a thoughtfully placed bird bath or fountain might be just what you are looking for. A garden statue or decorative faux rock can also provide disguise in these situations as well.

What is the best way to divert eyes from unsightly neighboring views?

If you want to divert eyes from unsightly neighboring views, a tall fence or hedge is the way to go.

Do garbage cans detract from the exterior of a house?

Garbage cans, utility boxes, and AC units are necessary to making your home function properly but unfortunately they can detract from your home’s exterior. Here are some simple ideas for how you can disguise these unsightly outdoor eyesores quickly and easily.