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-   -   Covering Utility Boxes (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=1189845)

thingmon 03-02-2026 06:08 PM

Covering Utility Boxes
 
A friend is looking for a cover for a backyard utility pole.

Some things I found...http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772507326.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772507352.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772507382.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772507404.jpg

thingmon 03-02-2026 06:12 PM

Doubt she'll go for that last one, but...

thingmon 03-02-2026 06:15 PM

The 'pole' is about 8" in diameter and 33" tall:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772507715.jpg

onewhippedpuppy 03-02-2026 06:31 PM

We had one of those ugly POS installed in our back yard, I surrounded it with a planter and covered it with a Jack Daniels barrel.

unclebilly 03-02-2026 07:11 PM

Either of these would spark a conversation or two…

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772511059.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772511113.jpg

thingmon 03-02-2026 07:46 PM

Ha. Yes, they would.

sc_rufctr 03-02-2026 08:01 PM

How accessible does it have to be? I like the light house.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thingmon (Post 12616374)
The 'pole' is about 8" in diameter and 33" tall:

...


rockfan4 03-02-2026 08:13 PM

A friend's back yard? Not your own?

I'd go with this. I also wouldn't tell him when it was installed.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772514825.jpg

thingmon 03-03-2026 03:54 AM

That would get me banned faster than an Iran thread.

Baz 03-03-2026 05:50 AM

When I was still landscaping for a living, I would use ornamental grasses to mask them.

Fakahatchee Grass or Dwraf Fakahatchee Grass being my favourite species to use - but there are others like Gulf Muhly Grass that will work well in our area.

Here's one of my projects showing before (4-24-09) and after (9-30-09).

In this case I used 1 gallon grasses so they started out very small but things grow fast - especially in Florida - so they achieved the desired effect soon enough.

If it was a Landscape Architect's plan I was following they would have speced a larger size plant to start with and probably more of them, because they are always after instant gratification. But as a Horticulturist, I understand and respect the actually practicality of plant growth habit.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772549253.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772549253.JPG

One thing I learned about Ornamental Grasses from a design POV is you need to space them very far apart to achieve the desired effect. 4' OC minimum and many times i would go 5'-6' OC. It all depends on the property and job how it's done.

Baz 03-03-2026 05:53 AM

Oh - the reason a grass plant works better than a traditional shrub type plant is whenever a utility person needs to access the utility fixture, the grasses bend and flex very easily to the arms and legs and hands for better access without damaging the plant material.

Zeke 03-03-2026 07:38 AM

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71eh2Db6QbL.jpg

thingmon 03-03-2026 09:55 AM

Grasses are on the list. The goal is to make that corner of the yard a pollinator garden.

Or a bendy guy... ha.

onewhippedpuppy 03-03-2026 09:58 AM

Here’s what we did. I cut holes in the barrel so it goes over the top of the ugly fiber Internet box, but can still be lifted off if needed. Can’t wait for those SOBs so try finding the box though!

Yes I’m still mad that they destroyed my back yard and then sent two dudes and a shovel to bury the fiber lines through my yard about 1” deep. So if we ever aerate, everybody will lose their internet including me.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1772564314.jpg

thingmon 03-03-2026 10:56 AM

The barrel is a nice touch. And mine is like that too. There are probably 20 cable wires running across my back yard. And now fiber a optic line from another direction. They didn't even bother to bury that one.

Zeke 03-03-2026 11:17 AM

Run a tracer line that can be detected if these are not shielded.


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