If I were to place dirt, mulch or otherwise on top a sewer access cover, is the worst possible scenario needing to destroy my landscaping to allow access?
I'm actually planning on a dirt path over it, this would be compacted dirt a few inches deep, no root structures or anything. So I'm thinking worst comes to worst the city tells me to uncover it, or really I guess worst case scenario might be needing to wade through muck to dig it up.
why create the extra work for those poor utility people having to uproot plantings, etc, etc., not to mention the expense of plants and YOUR time and effort creating the bed in the first place. Looks like you can do a curvy kinda bed and just plant around the manhole
You shouldn't obstruct access to a manhole by attempting to cover it up. There is likely a bylaw or law prohibiting it, aside from the possibility that there may in the future be some actual need to access it... which, in such an event, would probably be to your benefit (i.e. fixing/restoring/upgrading utilities).
This message was edited May 8, 2015 8:22 PM
Mulch is not usually much of a problem, just rake it away if access is needed. But locate the man hole cover REALLY WELL by taking several measurements off the surrounding structures.
Also, you could put a particular rock next to it (at least 50 lbs so no body wants to move it) to mark the location. Add other rocks elsewhere around the yard so it is not just a single rock.
You could put a flagstone over it to hide it, but still have easy access. Make a path of flagstones through the lawn, sink them in so you can still mow without hitting them.
There are special heavy duty Plastic manhole covers available to buy especially made for your needs, these are made to have like Bedding plants planted into the covers where you are able to lift the whole thing when a or IF any inspections are required.
here in UK the come in square shapes, round, oblong etc so I'm sure they will be avalable in USA, do a search for manhole planters, they may be able to deliver.
I have them placed in several places in the garden and I am with you when you say they are unsightly,
what I have done is filled and planted larger pot with various seasonal plants like summer bedding, plant bulbs in Autumn when the bedding has passed, the bulbs flower in spring and you remove the bulbs when past flowering dry off for next year, replant the large pot with new soil and bedding.
IF the large pot is still showing some of the manhole, then you just add smaller pots at the base and have some succulents or other small flowering plants IF you need more colour.
Hope this helps you get some ideas to hide the manhole, remember the metal acts like a radiator so you need to give the plants a lot of water especially in the hot summer months, the plants need constant deadheading or they run to seed and stop flowering,
Kindest Regards. WeeNel.
Hey there Outside,
Manholes are unsightly, but there is something we gardeners should ALWAYS bear in mind for so many reasons: weather changes.
When the weather is at its very worst that is the time when you least want to go out and move whatever you have planted over the manhole, plastic manhole cover from the UK or not.
The time when the weather is the worst is also the time when some poor soul who works for your municipality will need to have access to that (*$%#!!!) manhole.
So check your city regulations, make the plantsand soil lightweight and keep the heavy duty raincoat on a hook near the door!
that's my two pfenigs worth - good luck!
Heather Y.
In the litigation-happy U. S. of A, I think I'd be very cautious about tampering with any portion of a public utility. If utility workers can't find the manhole when they need to, and the result is some sort of damage to properties in your neighborhood, the resulting doo-doo could be deep.
HeatherY makes some really good points- Keep the manhole cover accessible, even if you are not home to point out where it is. A simple flagstone that does not fully cover it might be best. No soil, no mulch. I suppose you could paint it green to match the lawn. Maybe.
Utilities may color code things so they know what is under there.
Superstorm Sandy kept me inside for three days of weirdly lit olive green sky, wind, and rain rain rain. And more rain.
I gained a new respect for drainage infrastructure and I was really really grateful that we lost a only few roof shingles, nothing flooded, the power stayed on, and that I did not have to OUT in that mess!
Heather Y
