I have an obtrusive object in my front yard that bothers me every time I pull into the driveway. If it bothers me, I wonder how many others look at it and shake their heads that I haven’t done anything about it. We tried, but it didn’t work. I am talking about the natural gas above-ground piping and the meter. We tried camouflaging it with a structure made from the same siding as our house, but that didn’t do the trick, so it just became that big thing in the front yard.

Unfortunately what was created looked more like a lectern or a pulpit waiting for the preacher to arrive.

I have kept my eyes peeled to how others have disguised air conditioning units or heat pumps and haven’t seen any solution that would apply to my situation. Nothing felt right until I read an article on how to hide an eyesore in plain sight. It mainly comes down to creating an optical illusion of sorts.

A large dense shrub with big, coarse leaves planted directly in front of an object will draw the eye toward the object you are trying to disguise. And that is exactly what the result of covering the pipes with a structure turned out to be.

Had we left the pipes uncovered, they may not have been as obtrusive as the covering. Seems like I have heard an old saying: “Too late, we get so smart.”

The plan I should put in place is to remove the structure and plant a group of shrubs that are more pleasant to look at next to the pipes to nudge the view away from the pipes. The first thought would be to plant shrubs with seasonal interest; spring flowers, then greenery, ending with fall leaf color. Eventually we progress into winter with bare branches again making the standing pipes a visible eyesore.

The challenge now is to spend some time listing the pros and cons of all the possibilities and ending up with three plants that will grow well together and successfully accomplish the distraction that I want.

I won’t have any difficulty choosing a shrub. The puzzler will be a plant that will retain its leaves through the winter and then burst forth again in the spring. I immediately think of the Oregon grape or a variety of the ornamental grasses. I just need to do some sleuthing in our local nurseries and I am sure then the decision will be even harder to make.

According to Susan Morrison, author of “Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces,” “When trying to disguise something, it’s better to use a plant with fine textures. From a distance, finely textured plants with small or narrow leaves appeal to the eye without demanding a lot of attention. When placed in front of or near an object, the plant’s delicate features help the object appear to gently recede into the background.”

I checked with Cascade Natural Gas on restrictions and I was told the most important thing to do is call 811, the Oregon Utility Notification Center. Individuals can find out where underground pipes are, so the planting or root growth won’t interfere with the piping system.

If you are trying to disguise a heat pump or an air-conditioning unit, a big consideration would be to make sure the plants weren’t placed directly in front of the unit. Select a variety that can withstand the hot air that will be blowing directly on them. Plants should be placed 2 to 3 feet away from the box, as good circulation is required for the unit to run efficiently. Avoid planting a single plant directly in front of the unit as that will draw the eye instead of distracting the eye.

Covering fences

You’ll have to admit that although functional, most chain-link fences lack style and afford little privacy. With some thought and creativity you can soften the fence’s harsh line. If the fence is yours, the obvious choice would be a variety of flowering vines.

Vines that do well in our area include varieties of clematis ranging in color and size from the large purple jackmanii to the small yellow flowers of the lantern clematis which is more drought tolerant than the larger flowering clematis.

The silver lace vine produces large white flowers in late summer and has no known disease or insect problems. The vine is fast-growing, showing a growth between 8 to 12 inches per growing season.

Virginia creeper explodes with color in the fall rather than delight the eye with a showy flower in the summer. Birds can enjoy the purple berries in the fall.

Creativity will come into play if the fence is not yours. You will need some tall rebar posts available at building centers to act as the supports. You could also choose reed fencing that is available at garden centers or any other type of stake that would add stability to a trellis. If you like do-it-yourself projects, you could create a trellis from tree branches you have pruned or lathe strips you might have. An assembly of trellis panels would act as the distraction from the chain-link fencing. Paint the panels a neutral color if you want the fence to recede into the background or go bright to make the area a focal point.

Adding trees

It is important to remember when planting new trees or shrubs to remove any burlap, rope or wire cages. Take time to loosen roots so they can easily adjust to their new planting.

Make sure you consider the mature height and spread of your planting.

A common mistake is planting too deep and building a volcano after planting. Look for what is called the root flare on the trunk and plant so the flare is level with the grade. The volcano is when well meaning gardeners pile mulch high around a tree trunk or a shrub which can lead to rot.

With some thought and creativity we can minimize the eyesores in our landscape and perhaps give us something that will bring a smile and a feeling of satisfaction.