How to Landscape Around Your Outdoor Outlet

Having one or more outdoor outlets allows you easy access to power for an electric mower, weed whacker, hedge trimmer or any other appliance which requires electricity. It can also be used to power outdoor lights or decorative fixtures. That being said, the last thing you want is an outdoor outlet that is overly conspicuous with bulky extension cables running out every which way over your lawn and garden. To remedy this, it is important to place the outdoor outlet somewhere out of the way and to landscape around it. With the right design, the outdoor outlet can be functionally tucked away; blending into your landscaping rather than imposing upon its beauty. 

Step 1: Wire the Outdoor Outlet

The first step is to power the outdoor area by running a circuit from the main circuit panel through an underground conduit and to the final location. The circuit should be 20amps, be free of any other load, and the conduit should be buried at least 1 foot in the ground. The outlet box itself should never be placed horizontally; rather, it should be vertically installed with the conduit and support column extending at least 6 inches off the ground. That includes any layer of mulch, gravel or soil.

Step 2: Waterproof the Outlet

The outlet should be covered with a waterproof casing. Whether in use or not, the casing should be attached. Through the bottom of the cover you can feed the extension cords or power cables of various tools or fixtures. As an additional measure, face the outlet away from the path of any in-ground sprinkler system. 

Step 3: Landscaping Around Outlet

If you are landscaping from scratch, you have many options of how to proceed. If the outlet is installed after the fact, you may be more bound to the design. Basically, you want to conceal the presence of the outdoor outlet without hindering its use. The outlet should not in any way be buried by gravel, soil or mulch. Do not place it among dense shrubbery or ground foliage. Placing outdoor pots or decorative fixtures is one way to better conceal it from obvious view. If there is a powered water feature in front of or to the side of it, eyes will be less likely to notice the outlet. 

Step 4: Brick or Stone Placement

Another landscaping method you might try is to stylishly place landscape bricks or stones around the outdoor outlet. If the conduit and outlet box is gray, stones work very well. A green conduit and box may be better concealed by a variety of plants. 

With the outdoor outlet in place, there is a lot you can do to landscape around it. The most important things to remember are to always use a waterproof cover and to keep the outlet vertically placed at least 6 inches above the ground. Concealing it with plants, brick or stone or some kind of fixture is a good way to keep it relatively out of sight.