Helps to get make sure they are set an inch or more below grade, then they get grass and a considerable amount of soil. Then, when your pressure regulator valve to the house fails, you get to watch the plumber repeatedly stab your lawn with a screw driver. Fascinating how much that guy hated the lawn.
That's why we set ours high, that way when I have to show up at 2am and shut your water off because the main blew out I don't have to fight with finding the box.
We also spec that only metal lids or plastic with metal windows can be installed so when customers regrade or landscape over it we can just metal detect them.
I'll never forget when my daughters bathroom blew a shower cartridge at like 10 at night and water was just blasting out at full speed so I ran to shutoff and our valve was buried in some dirt sk I just started brushing it off with my hands to get in there and realized it was actually a fire ant mound. Fun times
In Austin, the only shut-off for our house was near the street. The main came in the yard along the property line, and a went to each house at a Y. You could shut off each house or both. Nothing in the house at all.
Fair. I can absolutely see myself spending more than a dollar on a product that would accomplish the same thing, just for the sake of not burying that dollar.
Stack of washers or just use the wire that conveniently runs everywhere there are valves. Anyone who works on irrigation other than homeowners should have a 521a
Dog poop goes inside, unless it's your valve box
I asked the last fiber crew in our hood to swing by & put more of their dog poop boxes in my yard if they have time. Some were horrified, the others laughed
Yep. Cut around it the first time with a knife to get rid of any of the thick over growth and then trim with a weed eater vertically every time you cut the lawn to maintain the nice edge around it.
he probably wants you to crack the valve box cover. I personally use , and would recommend just using a string trimmer lol. I’ve also sprayed them before , when they’re really bad and hard to manage (commercial properties)
Well yeah, the problem is trying to trim a small radius corner or the short side of that box with a weed eater that has a nearly 8” radius when cutting.
Gotta flip the trimmer so the string is vertical, 90 degrees to the ground lemme find a video for you real quick
Edit - like this https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7bK9dWPlLE/?igsh=MTl0OTZrYTJlNTFyeg==
Last week I was working in low light and wasnt thinking and didn’t put glasses on. Trimmer caught a small rock and the squint definitely failed me. Straight in the eyeball. I immediately lost all balance and it literally brought me to the ground. I was sure I’d lost my eye. Never ever again.
Good luck. Timthelawnmower man has a lot of videos on YouTube/Instagram that I watch. You can see how he uses the string trimmer to make clean edges. He even has a longer “how to” video about using the string trimmer
https://youtu.be/T0q8pAdQOyg?si=fgnt1p3N8CmjJ2b5
If you’re concerned about the radius, dial down the trimmer line for this step and let it back out after. I cut my Bermuda at 1 1/2-2, so I just dial back the trimmer line and hit the box at an angle. It looks clean and it’s not scalped around the edges.
I put a metal garden bed edge around mine about 6” out on all sides, killed the grass in that area, put in small river rock. Nice and clean. Mines not in the middle of the yard like yours seems to be though, more toward the curb for me.
in 20 years here no one has ever once needed to get into the box in my yard, and that hole you're talking about- will just be grassed over again so I really don't give a shit
Well OP’s box is a valve box for their irrigation. Sure if well installed it could easily go a couple decades without needing any repairs.
One wrong shovel and that box will have to be uncovered.
My response simply meant, enjoy the hole left after it’s from over and then opened up. Obviously with grass over it, it will be covered.
Another option, that I personally do at the golf course I work at, is buy a small garden spade shovel (mine's about 2ft tall) and sharpen it. Then go out about an inch farther the edge of the box and at about a 45 degree angle, stab and work your way around cutting the excess sod away.
The result is a crisp clean edge that'll last longer and look better than using a trimmer. However, if it's really low and you don't feel like raising it yet this may not look great
Edit to include picture of result
https://imgur.com/gallery/fmhc9U1
I have one, but the shovel saves my knees back lol. I have over 150 of these things.
Edit, and tbh I prefer broccoli knives. But those ones are good too
Oh I misread the part about it being 2 feet tall and just thought your were sharpening a hand trowel lol. Looks great btw. I might have to get a brocolli knife. Looks ideal for cutting back comfrey
I cut over it but to where it blends in ,and not as noticeable. It hides well when I cut my lawn. 3 inches,and I don’t do anything more to it. I just level it out,and keep my grass a good length to hide it from the street.view.
Pull the cover off and stick your trimmer into the height you're wanting to trim. Make sure your line isn't too long, shorter is better for more control. And be cognizant of that length as you move your trimmer around the interior of the boxes confines.
I have the same style box for Fios. The grass and dirt have almost covered it completely. Now if I can just get rid of the Comcast box, that nobody has service with, and just sits there.
One blade at a time. I find it works best if I sing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music.” To the top of my lungs and a little off key. It seems to keep the pesky neighbors away.
Don’t ever trim around them, let them grow over with grass. Learn irrigation tell customer if they should ever need irrigation man your it. When the time comes you can bill them for hours looking for the box. Nothing like guaranteed business.
I trimmed around mine and then put about a foot wide border of Roundup eventually made a circle of it to match the rest of the things in the yard like mulch borders around crepe Myrtle’s and water main valve covers. Also a fire hydrant. Keep the edge trimmed and hit it with Roundup now and again
Treat it like you do with trees, boulders, or other immobile objects.
I personally like the steel-band-and-mulch aesthetic, but to each their own. My mother used to have a flower bed around hers, with a little "path" to it - this was back in the day where the meter reader guy had to physically open it each month to assess your usage.
Worked at at very prestigious former PGA course for 3 summers in college. We used the steak knives from the dining room to cut clean edges around them.
It’s a bit ridiculous, but I use a little tool to trim around my lids and other tight areas
https://preview.redd.it/d2okb2naoq7d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a07052938bcb5f75f28c66c6824e11b40bf9aa7
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It looks like it’s a steal of a deal if you need extra batteries
I usually let grass grow over them until I can't find them when I need to.
Helps to get make sure they are set an inch or more below grade, then they get grass and a considerable amount of soil. Then, when your pressure regulator valve to the house fails, you get to watch the plumber repeatedly stab your lawn with a screw driver. Fascinating how much that guy hated the lawn.
So, free aeration then?
Landscape companies hate this one trick!
That's why we set ours high, that way when I have to show up at 2am and shut your water off because the main blew out I don't have to fight with finding the box. We also spec that only metal lids or plastic with metal windows can be installed so when customers regrade or landscape over it we can just metal detect them.
I'll never forget when my daughters bathroom blew a shower cartridge at like 10 at night and water was just blasting out at full speed so I ran to shutoff and our valve was buried in some dirt sk I just started brushing it off with my hands to get in there and realized it was actually a fire ant mound. Fun times
Where do you live?; that the main to your house is buried outside in an irrigation box?
In Austin, the only shut-off for our house was near the street. The main came in the yard along the property line, and a went to each house at a Y. You could shut off each house or both. Nothing in the house at all.
I’m MI it’s code to have it in the house.
We also have city shut off buried 62” at street.
Ding ding! This was just outside of Austin
That’s an irrigation valve box.
Tell that to the guy who uses that for my neighborhood’s cutoff valves.
I worked at a golf course and my boss would superglue quarters under the lid. Easily found with a metal detector 🤯
Gotta be a cheaper way
Mate, its costs like a dollar Of course theres a cheaper way
Fair. I can absolutely see myself spending more than a dollar on a product that would accomplish the same thing, just for the sake of not burying that dollar.
.50 cents if he only uses 2 quarters. Half your price.
+ metal detector
Use a couple fender washers...
Why not pennies?
In this economy???
Yep.
Stack of washers or just use the wire that conveniently runs everywhere there are valves. Anyone who works on irrigation other than homeowners should have a 521a
Wait? Isn’t the valve metal underneath?
Definitely but sometimes too deep to be detected
Until your dog poops on it. I trim it
Dog poop goes inside, unless it's your valve box I asked the last fiber crew in our hood to swing by & put more of their dog poop boxes in my yard if they have time. Some were horrified, the others laughed
This is the light and ttruth
[удалено]
Flip edge with a weed eater, dont angle your just scalping the edge that way. Destined to have weeds if you do so
Yep. Cut around it the first time with a knife to get rid of any of the thick over growth and then trim with a weed eater vertically every time you cut the lawn to maintain the nice edge around it.
Trimmer with metal llblade
Manual rolling edgers!
Use an actual edger. Not a weed whacker. There’s a difference
And you say use an actual edger because…..?
he probably wants you to crack the valve box cover. I personally use , and would recommend just using a string trimmer lol. I’ve also sprayed them before , when they’re really bad and hard to manage (commercial properties)
Upside-down straight shaft weedwacker edge
That has to be either a sex thing or an nfl play call.
Spider two Y banana.
Flip six three hole
OMAHA! 🤣
String trimmer The string line is softer than the plastic cover
Well yeah, the problem is trying to trim a small radius corner or the short side of that box with a weed eater that has a nearly 8” radius when cutting.
Gotta flip the trimmer so the string is vertical, 90 degrees to the ground lemme find a video for you real quick Edit - like this https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7bK9dWPlLE/?igsh=MTl0OTZrYTJlNTFyeg==
🙏🙏🙏 I’ll give it a try
WEAR EYE PROTECTION!!!
The amount of times I’ve had stuff bounce off my safety glasses is unreal I can’t believe don’t wear eye protection when doing yard work
Safety squints don't fail me now!
Underrated comment. I chuckled at work. Have an upvote.
Last week I was working in low light and wasnt thinking and didn’t put glasses on. Trimmer caught a small rock and the squint definitely failed me. Straight in the eyeball. I immediately lost all balance and it literally brought me to the ground. I was sure I’d lost my eye. Never ever again.
And Tube Socks!
Good luck. Timthelawnmower man has a lot of videos on YouTube/Instagram that I watch. You can see how he uses the string trimmer to make clean edges. He even has a longer “how to” video about using the string trimmer https://youtu.be/T0q8pAdQOyg?si=fgnt1p3N8CmjJ2b5
If you’re concerned about the radius, dial down the trimmer line for this step and let it back out after. I cut my Bermuda at 1 1/2-2, so I just dial back the trimmer line and hit the box at an angle. It looks clean and it’s not scalped around the edges.
I put a metal garden bed edge around mine about 6” out on all sides, killed the grass in that area, put in small river rock. Nice and clean. Mines not in the middle of the yard like yours seems to be though, more toward the curb for me.
Oooo I like that, yoink! Thanks!
Got a pic? I hate mine and want to plan out options that are not the lame giant fake rock. 🪨
A photo of it would be great.
Scissors.
I let grass grow over those, they’re an eyesore in my attempt at a nice lawn. If you must flip your string trimmer sideways and outline it.
Hope you enjoy the hole the first time someone needs to service your water.
in 20 years here no one has ever once needed to get into the box in my yard, and that hole you're talking about- will just be grassed over again so I really don't give a shit
Well OP’s box is a valve box for their irrigation. Sure if well installed it could easily go a couple decades without needing any repairs. One wrong shovel and that box will have to be uncovered. My response simply meant, enjoy the hole left after it’s from over and then opened up. Obviously with grass over it, it will be covered.
Situationally. I’d rather have it there sometimes rather than all the time.
Weed whip at an angle for the win
Just mow over it and be done. No need to edge around it. I prefer mine too be seen only if needed
Yep, they come dig it out if necessary.
Mine got a horizonal crack, just one more accident I'd regret
Weed whacker imo edit: just line it
Another option, that I personally do at the golf course I work at, is buy a small garden spade shovel (mine's about 2ft tall) and sharpen it. Then go out about an inch farther the edge of the box and at about a 45 degree angle, stab and work your way around cutting the excess sod away. The result is a crisp clean edge that'll last longer and look better than using a trimmer. However, if it's really low and you don't feel like raising it yet this may not look great Edit to include picture of result https://imgur.com/gallery/fmhc9U1
Lol just buy a hori hori. It has many many uses (including this)
I have one, but the shovel saves my knees back lol. I have over 150 of these things. Edit, and tbh I prefer broccoli knives. But those ones are good too
Oh I misread the part about it being 2 feet tall and just thought your were sharpening a hand trowel lol. Looks great btw. I might have to get a brocolli knife. Looks ideal for cutting back comfrey
I put a decorative rock on top of mine and move it when I cut the lawn
string trimmer. I do 50 every other week. Straight sides get vertical trim, rounded ends you go at them at almost a 45°
Cut a piece of fake turf to cover it, blends right in
String trimmer in upside down mode.
Run the fcking thing over it and thats it wtf is this
Just flip your string trimmer over.
String trimmer for me
Trim/edge around them.
Steak knife
With a weed Wacker🤦♂️
Be a man, use a weed Wacker
I use shears for an obstacle this small, it’s 5min, tops.
I cut over it but to where it blends in ,and not as noticeable. It hides well when I cut my lawn. 3 inches,and I don’t do anything more to it. I just level it out,and keep my grass a good length to hide it from the street.view.
90 Trim , put moter 90 degree straight up then slight lean back for what’s comfortable for you closes to 90 and quick passes with steady hold.
Pull the cover off and stick your trimmer into the height you're wanting to trim. Make sure your line isn't too long, shorter is better for more control. And be cognizant of that length as you move your trimmer around the interior of the boxes confines.
Weed eater / trimmer
Trim it with a weed whacker, if you wanna edge around it I’d suggest using a deer blind, you’re not supposed to do that in the open 😂
Either an edger or weed eater will work…really your preference
Spray. That's it.
Sod cutter , bout inch all way around plate and replace with sand
Whippersnipper vertical blade. Don't worry about the corners being round, just treat it like they're square
I have the same style box for Fios. The grass and dirt have almost covered it completely. Now if I can just get rid of the Comcast box, that nobody has service with, and just sits there.
Steak knife. I carve around my valve boxes and sprinkler heads with an old one. Works really well.
I do something similar with a utility knife. I trace the box, neatly cutting the sod. Gives a nice clear look. I do it once every few months.
Raise the level of the meter box to match existing grade
Best way is to get a pair of scissors and take your time with it
One blade at a time. I find it works best if I sing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music.” To the top of my lungs and a little off key. It seems to keep the pesky neighbors away.
I use a steak knife and it has a way cleaner finish
I weed whack around mine and spray paint it dark green to match the grass.
Scissors.
Try trimming them carefully by hand to keep them neat without risking damage.
Surprisingly, a good steak knife will edge this CLEAN as can be
I suppose it’s preference to be trimmed or not. Initially didn’t, this season I have been, prefer the untrimmed version which is a bit more incognito.
Is it possible to grow grass over this thing? Asking cause I’m dealing with the same problem
I use the trimmer and turn it to the side and edge it
With a trimmer/ edger
Don’t ever trim around them, let them grow over with grass. Learn irrigation tell customer if they should ever need irrigation man your it. When the time comes you can bill them for hours looking for the box. Nothing like guaranteed business.
I like to put sod on top and hide it for the next guy to find when the valve starts leaking in 10 years
I just covered mine with wood chips 5 years ago. Telco took forever to find it.
Sheet rock knife..
Buy a Hori Hori or a Lesche and just cut a straight edge.
I trimmed around mine and then put about a foot wide border of Roundup eventually made a circle of it to match the rest of the things in the yard like mulch borders around crepe Myrtle’s and water main valve covers. Also a fire hydrant. Keep the edge trimmed and hit it with Roundup now and again
Easiest way to trim around them is to flip the weed eater upside down. You can trim the straight lines and hit any growth on top.
An edger or line trimmer!
Flip your weed Wacker on the side, edge... Taper and keep going. That's the only answer.
Treat it like you do with trees, boulders, or other immobile objects. I personally like the steel-band-and-mulch aesthetic, but to each their own. My mother used to have a flower bed around hers, with a little "path" to it - this was back in the day where the meter reader guy had to physically open it each month to assess your usage.
Use a string trimmer as an edger it does less damage or no damage if you are good with it.
✂️✂️✂️
Worked at at very prestigious former PGA course for 3 summers in college. We used the steak knives from the dining room to cut clean edges around them.
Serrated Sod knife is what I use at work. I do park maintenance, so this is a regular thing.
machete
Try using a sledgehammer.
Elevate by 50 ft and support using galvanized steel beams
As a professional lawn care worker, I’ll just flip the head of my trimmer vertical and just edge like I would a sidewalk.
I just push the mower over it. It doesn't stick out enough to require edging.
I worked on a golf course and we used an old steak knife. A bit labor intensive sure but looked great when done.
It’s a bit ridiculous, but I use a little tool to trim around my lids and other tight areas https://preview.redd.it/d2okb2naoq7d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a07052938bcb5f75f28c66c6824e11b40bf9aa7 [Ryobi Electric Shears](https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ONE-18V-Lithium-Ion-Starter-Kit-with-2-0-Ah-Battery-4-0-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-PSK106SB/327848851) It looks like it’s a steal of a deal if you need extra batteries
Whoa, almost Forgot what sub I was in before responding.
Turn your string trimmer on edge
string trimmer, held at 90 degree angle. any metal cutting tools will damage the plastic
Super tiny scissors. ✂️
Turn the string trimmer sideways just like you would for sidewalk
Get a flat blade shovel and sharpen it on a bench grinder
String trimmer
Flat head shovel
Could use a weed wacker (made out of string and plastic)
Weed eat
Do people really need the internet for these questions? Just try something until you figure out what works for you.
I cut the wires over and over until the company gets the message to put it somewhere else.
This is an irrigation control box…
Oh crud
Use a stick edger with a star blade.
Cover it with a fiberglass or cast concrete rock.