Pick Camouflage That Rocks. Sometimes function gets in the way of form. … Tuck Tools Away. … Build a Functional Barrier. … Don’t Forget to Go Low. … Build a Shed Under the Stairs. … Stack Wood Under a Seat. … Artfully Add Seclusion. … Contain Your Garden Hose.

How do you cover up eyesores in the garden?

  1. Create a Natural Barrier Screen. Nicola Croughan, an interior designer for Blinds Direct, recommends creating a natural “screen” to hide bins, outdoor grills and other large items. …
  2. Create a Garden Distraction. …
  3. Use a Dirt Berm. …
  4. Potted Plants Can Hide Utilities.

How do you hide unsightly utility boxes?

  1. 1.) Go for a Garbage Can Shed. …
  2. 2.) Conceal an AC Unit. …
  3. 3.) Contain Clutter. …
  4. 4.) Corral the Garden Hose. …
  5. 5.) Mask Meters. …
  6. 6.) Cover Up Unsightly Cement. …
  7. 7.) Organize Garden Tools. …
  8. 8.) Strategically Place Garden Decor.

How do you hide unsightly items in your garden?

  1. House garbage bins in a specially designed shed. …
  2. Add a privacy screen between the bins and point of visibility. …
  3. Floor containers. …
  4. Wall mounts. …
  5. Replace the garage door. …
  6. Paint the exterior a color. …
  7. Enhance with faux carriage-door details. …
  8. Create dimension with a pergola or lattice.

How do I stop unsightly views?

  1. Add a waterfall to the corner for sound and draw the eye down.
  2. Plant tall, columnar evergreens for screening.
  3. Place a gazebo in the corner.
  4. Use lattice panels to extend the height of the wall.
  5. Request underground utility lines.
  6. Install a paver patio anchored by an outdoor fireplace.

Can an electrical panel be outside?

Outdoor electrical boxes are very safe. When the electrical boxes are installed outside, in case of a fire incident or short-circuit, the fire department can quickly shut off the main electrical supply of your home.

What to plant to block neighbors?

  1. Clematis. Vines make great screens. …
  2. Climbing Roses. Train climbing roses over fences, walls, pergolas and gazebos. …
  3. Cherry Laurel. Cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States. …
  4. Ivy. …
  5. Boxwood. …
  6. Privet. …
  7. Japanese Holly. …
  8. Buckthorn.

Can I paint utility boxes in my yard?

You may not paint it, and any landscaping that you plant around the box has to allow a clear path of access for workers. There are no current plans to remove these relics, because, as Yergey put it, “these boxes house the cable/wiring that provide dial tone and broadband services.

What do you plant to hide a utility box?

Hedge shrubs to consider include American boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), burning bush (Euonymus alatus), glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora), but any of these also work well when allowed to grow unpruned. If your landscaping style is less formal, then free form shrubs are the better choice.

How can I make my garden look nice?
  1. Fill with flowers. …
  2. Plant some produce. …
  3. Perk it up with pots. …
  4. Look after your lawn. …
  5. Get rid of weeds. …
  6. Reupholster, repaint, rejuvenate. …
  7. Clean your patio. …
  8. Add a water feature.
Article first time published on

How do I block out my Neighbours?

  1. Staggered Wooden Boards. Photo by Andrew Drake. …
  2. Hedges for Privacy. Photo by Nancy Andrews. …
  3. Layered Privacy Plantings. …
  4. Container Gardens for Deck Privacy. …
  5. Fences and Walls. …
  6. Stone Wall Topped with Fencing. …
  7. Masonry Walls with Ornamental Ironwork. …
  8. Panels and Pergolas.

What is the fastest-growing privacy shrub?

Arborvitae (Thuja) A good choice for large privacy hedges is the fast grower ‘Green Giant’, which can reach 50 to 60 feet tall (with a spread of 12 to 20 feet). If you want a bush that is more compact and do not mind waiting a bit longer, ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae is a better option.

What is the fastest-growing tree for privacy?

What are the fastest-growing trees for privacy? Hybrid poplar tops the list. It can grow upwards of five feet per year. The Leyland cypress, green giant arborvitae, and silver maple are all close seconds because they add about two feet to their height each year.

What is the fastest-growing plant for privacy?

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, so it can create a lush and exotic privacy screen very quickly. Some varieties of bamboo are invasive, so consider picking a slow-spreading, clumping variety, or planting it in large raised planters to keep it under control.

Why are electrical panels outside the house?

Is Your Breaker Box on the Outside of Your House? Over the past 15 years, regulations have been introduced in certain parts of the country requiring breaker boxes to be located outside of the home. This is so that the local fire department can quickly shut off a home’s electricity supply in the event of a fire.

What is the electrical box outside my house called?

Known as the electrical panel, breaker box, fuse box, or service panel, this piece of equipment is the next device in line. This panel’s job is to distribute power throughout your home and disconnect power from the incoming feed. The power comes into the main breaker and is usually 100 or 200 amps.

Can you plant around utility box?

Plant taller shrubs at the back of the planting area to conceal the electrical box, ensuring that plants don’t extend into the access area at full maturity. Avoid prickly shrubs such as holly and firethorn that could scratch utility workers when they access the box.

How close can I plant to electrical box?

  • Always maintain a clearance of 10 feet in front of the transformer. …
  • Maintain a clearance of 4 feet on the other three sides of the transformer.
  • Never dig beside the transformer.
  • Adequate space is needed for air circulation around transformers.

Can you fence in a utility box?

Yes, you can build on a property easement, even a utility easement. … The dominant estate owning the easement may need to access the easement. 1 Anything, from a house addition down to fences, shrubs, and children’s playsets might need to be removed in this event.

What is the use of utility box?

An electrical utility box is typically a rectangular, open-faced box mounted in a wall. It serves to house an electrical device, such as an electrical receptacle or switch or a GFI (ground fault interrupter).

How do I hide my outside gas meter?

Use Tall Plants Install plants in front of the gas meter, leaving about 4 feet between the plants and the meter. Pick plants that grow tall enough to hide the meter completely but are simple to trim. Keep the back of the plants pruned so the plants don’t encroach the 4-foot open space.

Can you cover utility boxes?

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.

Can I paint my gas and electric meter boxes?

Painting electric meter box Can it be painted in the same way you can paint a gas meter box? Absolutely. Like our plastic gas meter boxes, our plastic electric boxes are made from a durable thermoplastic polymer material. This makes them resistant to corrosion, and suitable for all kinds of weather conditions.

Can I paint my gas meter box?

Fire retardant paints can be a viable option to paint meter boxes. Be sure to identify any safety requirements before initiating the painting process fully. For gas meter boxes special care should be taken to make sure not to block vents on the unit with drying paint.

How can I make my garden look nice cheap?

  1. Paint a statement wall. …
  2. Build your own fire pit. …
  3. Grow a lawn from seed. …
  4. Give your garden furniture a clean. …
  5. Add a lick of paint to your tables and chairs. …
  6. Repurpose tins. …
  7. Upcycle pallets for pretty planters. …
  8. Give old tires a new lease of life.

How do you dress a garden?

  1. Use Ornaments as Finishings. Photo by Jennifer Cheung. …
  2. Design for Outdoor Rooms. …
  3. Dress Up Garden Entrances. …
  4. Tie Furnishings Into the Overall Scheme. …
  5. Choose Decor Suited for The Outdoors. …
  6. Take Lighting to Another Level. …
  7. Showcase Plant Collections. …
  8. Embrace Unusual Displays.

How do you do a garden makeover on a budget?

  1. Paint Old Plant Pots. Painting old plant pots is one of the things you can do for an easy garden makeover. …
  2. Fertilise Your Lawn. …
  3. Clean Your Patio. …
  4. Solar Powered Lights. …
  5. Eliminate Weeds. …
  6. Paint Your Fences. …
  7. Spruce up Garden Furniture with Cushions. …
  8. Plant Perennials.

Do I have a right to privacy in my garden?

Right to privacy The good news is, you don’t necessarily have to put up with it – you do have a right to your privacy. If all else fails, your local authority should be able to help. The same goes for security cameras – they should only film within the confines of your garden or public space.

How do you screen off part of a garden?

  1. Dark hedges allow flowers in front to shine.
  2. Pleached trees provide high-level screening.
  3. © Clive Nichols. Mirrors are ideal for breaking up large expanses of wall or fencing.
  4. © Marianne Majerus. Screening can be the ideal place to experiment with colour.

Are lilac bushes good for privacy?

Lilac hedges, with their colorful, often fragrant blooms, provide privacy and beautify the landscape. Plant them as a screen, barrier, property line marker or garden room divider or backdrop.

What grows tall and fast?

  • Lofty Trees. One of the fastest-growing evergreen trees is Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii), which grows as much as 3 feet per year when young, reaching 20 to 30 feet tall in 10 years. …
  • Showy Shrubs. …
  • Flowering Perennials. …
  • Gracefull Grasses.