Since the grasses would only hide the utility box for part of the year, I would look for some evergreen shrubs instead. You could mix in some grasses for seasonal interest, but the shrubs would provide year-round screening.

I hear where you're coming from Donn, but my plan is to retain the dead grass stalks through the winter and shear them only in early Spring. My hope is that this will keep the grasses looking interesting through the winter and of course continue to obscure that green utility box. The good thing about the Blue Oats Grasses is that they're evergreen in my area. So they'll serve as a good hedge year round. Thank you again for your feedback Donn!

Red Amaranth (prince's feather) would be especially lovely, and has a gorgeous color. Alternatively, some cattails or alliums would provide good movement.

Thanks for the suggestions Ninkasi. I'll look into those as well.

bobby

"The good thing about the Blue Oats Grasses is that they're evergreen in my area."

If you refer to Helictotrichon sempervirens, I grow quite a few of them, and they are only semi-evergreen in my warm zone 7. By the middle of winter, they are pretty ratty and matted messes, and I cut them back. Since they're cool season grasses, they come back quickly as spring comes in, but they're pretty short for a few months.

They don't get quite as bad as those in the link below, because I cut them back in mid-winter, but they're pretty bad.

Here is a link that might be useful: H. sempervirens after winter

This post was edited by donn_ on Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 15:09

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri is a big tall blueish grass that will grow in your zone. It has a vertical habit and doesn't necessarily have to be trimmed in spring. Its also known as 'Big Muhly' It grows fast with moisture but is very drought hardy too. Same goes with Muhlenbergia 'rigens' another big grass that has a different habit or you could do a grouping. If you really want to hide it, go big with Sacaton wrightii, its gorgeous in late afternoon sun. Each of these grow fast and will effectively hide that thing, no problem.

awesome suggestions! thank you.

Of course you'll want to call the utility locator folks before digging anywhere near these boxes.

If you cut the lines you will be responsible for damages and repairs. If the wires are 'hot' or you hit gas lines, that could be a disaster.