Bushy Box 🌳 Large Hollow Log Planter. Outdoor Garden, Yard & Porch Pot. Tall Tree Stump Well Pump Cover. Weatherproof, Rustic, Natural Looking Deck & Patio Decor. Better Than a Fake Rock.

Why I reached for a “log” instead of a fake rock

A wellhead and a pair of utility boxes sit right where my front bed meets the lawn—an eyesore I’d grown used to mowing around. I’ve tried the usual suspect (a fake boulder), but it always looked like exactly that: a staged prop. The Bushy Box log planter promised something different—more vertical presence, an organic silhouette, and a place for actual plants. After a season of living with it, I’m convinced this is a smarter way to hide necessary-but-ugly hardware without turning the spot into a theme park.

Design and build

The log planter stands about 32 inches tall with a hollow interior designed to slip over objects up to roughly 24 inches high and 10 inches wide. The exterior texture is the star: bark ridges, knotholes, and a nicely mottled finish that reads as “weathered tree” from any normal viewing distance. It’s not a perfect cylinder; the footprint is subtly oval and the wall thickness varies, which helps the shape feel natural rather than molded.

There’s a drain hole with a plug near the base. This isn’t just useful for planting—it also lets you decide whether to keep interior moisture at bay when you’re using it as a cover. The material is a heavy-duty resin, so it’s lighter than a real stump but rigid enough that it doesn’t flex or feel flimsy when you move it. The finish hides seams well, and the top opening is wide enough to hold a generous drop-in nursery pot if you don’t want to plant directly.

A small note on the inside geometry: the cavity isn’t a perfect tube. One side is subtly deeper, which turned out to be helpful for working around an offset pipe.

Installation and fit

I set the log planter on a compacted pad of gravel capped with a square paver to give it a flat base and keep it level with the mulch line. That small prep step makes a big difference—flat and stable means less wobble and better alignment with whatever you’re hiding.

If you’re covering a wellhead or utility pedestal, measure carefully. The 10-inch internal width is the hard limit, and because the cavity is oval, rotating the planter can be the difference between “nope” and “fits cleanly.” Mine slid over a slightly oblong casing only after I turned it about 30 degrees.

For wind resistance, I dropped two small paving stones into the base cavity (there’s plenty of room around a typical pipe). You could use sandbags or pea gravel in a heavy-duty bag. The added ballast lowers the center of gravity without blocking airflow.

Important cautions:
- Leave some clearance around any valves or connections for service access.
- Don’t enclose anything that needs ventilation or heat dissipation.
- Check local codes; some utilities require a visible marker or minimum clearance.

Planting experience

As a planter, the log shines. The depth allows for a robust root zone, and the drain plug gives you flexibility. I prefer to leave the plug out and use a layer of coarse bark or a mesh screen to keep soil from migrating. If you’re dropping in a nursery pot, it’s easy to lift out for wintering or replanting without disturbing the cover role.

Because it’s tall and free-standing, the planting pocket can dry a bit faster in windy exposures. I had the best results with drought-tolerant choices—think trailing ivy and sedum underplanted with calibrachoa or lobelia in spring, then swapping for a small ornamental grass and trailing thyme in late summer. If you face full-day sun, a drip emitter provides a nice safety net; otherwise, plan on checking moisture every couple of days during heat waves.

One nice side effect of the vertical form: it creates a clear focal point. Even a simple fern spilling over the rim reads intentionally “designed,” not just “something to hide a pipe.”

Weather performance and durability

After a full season of sun, rain, and several freeze-thaw cycles, the structure hasn’t warped, and the drain channel works as expected. The resin doesn’t soak water, so there’s no swelling, and it shrugs off mud and lawn debris with a quick hose-down.

Finish-wise, here’s what I noticed:
- Normal bumps and scrapes can reveal a lighter substrate on sharp edges. It’s easy to touch up with a little outdoor craft paint in bark tones (a mix of dark brown, gray, and a hint of olive works surprisingly well).
- In a south-facing, no-shade spot, the high points of the texture softened in color by the end of summer. It wasn’t dramatic, but if you’re picky, a UV-protectant clear coat intended for outdoor plastics helps slow that fade. I applied one in early fall and plan to repeat annually.
- String trimmers are the enemy of faux-anything. Keep a mulch buffer and hand-edge around the base to protect the finish.

Through winter, I left the piece in place. With the drain open, there was no issue with ice expansion, and the material didn’t become brittle.

As a cover vs. a fake rock

A dome-shaped rock hides low, squat equipment well, but it often looks awkward next to vertical plantings and fences. The log planter adds height and a small footprint, which works better near hedges, downspouts, and fence posts. The ability to drop a plant into the top is a real advantage; you’re not stuck with inert camo. On the flip side, the internal width limit (10 inches) and 24-inch height clearance won’t suit every installation, so measure first.

Maintenance tips

• Rinse with a hose and a soft brush; avoid harsh solvents and pressure washers.
• Touch up scuffs with exterior-grade acrylic craft paint if needed.
• Apply a UV-protectant spray once a year in high-sun regions.
• If you use it solely as a cover, consider a breathable mesh “floor” inside to keep leaves from collecting around what you’re hiding.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners who want to conceal small wellheads, sprinkler valves, or cable pedestals without a “prop rock.”
• Gardeners who like vertical accents and the flexibility to change seasonal plantings.
• Spaces where a naturalistic, rustic feel complements the broader design.

Who should look elsewhere:
- Anyone needing to conceal equipment wider than 10 inches or taller than 24 inches.
- Sites where frequent technician access requires a clear, unobstructed view at all times.

Value and trade-offs

This is not a bargain-bin piece. You’re paying for a large, realistic form that holds up outside and earns its keep as both cover and planter. Compared to pro-built wooden screens or masonry enclosures, it’s inexpensive and much faster to deploy. Compared to entry-level faux rocks, it costs more but looks more intentional and gives you a living element on top.

The trade-offs are primarily in finish management over the long haul (expect to maintain color in full sun) and the strict interior dimensions. If you can accept those, there’s a lot to like.

Pros

• Convincing bark texture and organic silhouette
• Dual-purpose: disguise and planting in one footprint
• Weatherproof with functional drainage and plug
• Lightweight enough to move, sturdy enough to feel solid
• Simple to ballast for wind

Cons

• Premium price
• Finish can scuff; lighter substrate may show on edges
• Some color fade in intense, prolonged sun without UV protection
• Strict internal size limit and irregular interior shape require careful measuring

Recommendation

I recommend the Bushy Box log planter for anyone looking to hide small outdoor utilities while adding a genuinely natural-looking vertical accent. It solves a practical problem, creates a planting opportunity, and avoids the stagey feel of many faux covers. The price is on the higher side, and you’ll want to plan some light finish maintenance if your site bakes in full sun, but those are reasonable trade-offs for the quality of the form and the flexibility it brings to a tricky corner of the yard. If your equipment fits the stated dimensions, this is a smart, good-looking upgrade that feels at home in a real garden.