How can I camouflage an unsightly 1.5ft X 1.5ft electricity supply box

 Hi

I've just put a deposit on a beautiful new home.  The only fault with
it is there is a 1.5ft x 1.5ft stainless steel Electricity Supply box
in the garden.

Has anyone any idea how I can camouflage this?

My mother recommended planting a weeping will shrub behind the box
which would drap over the front?

Any advise?
Thanks

 

I might call the Elec company and ask if it might be alright to paint it a
dark green?
That way it will eventually blend. Maybe you know someone who does tole
painting? That would look so neat in the garden while waiting for your
weeping thing to grow. Is that a willow and is it far from your plumbing? If
not I'd reconsider. They choke off water pipes etc. I was told this and have
no experience.

Betsy

 Hi Betsy

Thanks for the advise.  I'll definitely look into painting it - great
idea.  Apologies for my typing error earlier.  Yes, its a weeping
willow.  My mother has some in her garden so I'll talk to her more
about it.



betsyb wrote:

 
Your mother isn't thinking straight. Weeping willows become big trees with
wide-ranging roots. You do not want that near utility fixtures. Tell your
mother "Good idea", and then forget she ever said it. What you want is
shrubs, not trees.

Next, take pictures of the yard, including the box. Bring the pictures to a
real garden center* and tell them what your goal is. If you get what seems
to be an overly fast answer, ask this question about whatever shrub you seem
to be falling in love with: "What sort of care will this plant need in 2, 5
and 10 years?" If you get a blank stare, head to the library. Find 3-4 books
which discuss the shrub in detail.

* "Real" means not Home Depot, not Lowe's, not Wal Mart. You get the
picture.

 
I'd kinda think about the future.  As others have stated, you need to
consider what happens with a mature shrub.  Will the root structure
interfere with the utility wire?  If the utility company needs to do
repairs, will the shrub be damaged, or removed?
There are several companies that make fake boulders to cover up just the
thing you're asking about.  Granted, a fake boulder by itself may stick out
like a sore thumb unless some other landscaping (other hardscape and
perennial flowers) were placed around it.  But, lifting a fake boulder for
utility repairs may do less damage to your established garden/bed than a
more permanent shrub planting.

Also, depending upon the location and overall design of the garden/bed you
may consider using a sculpture, pedestal, birdbath, planter, bench etc. to
conceal the utility box.

FWIW, I've used a hollowed out stump to cover a well head pump and
surrounded it with smaller rocks and some perennial flowers.  Cost...next to
nothing...I already had the stump, rocks, and perennials from another bed.