Greetings,
I have some old gas pipes that come out of the ground about 10" from the foundation and enter the house at about 24". I would like to plant something there to cover the unsightly pipes and to deter children from playing with them.
I was thinking boxwood because I can shape it to cover the pipes nicely and it's fairly small and dense. Can I plant that now, or should I wait until spring?
Also, that spot has standing water during a rain and doesn't get much sun, none this time of year. Will a boxwood do okay under those conditions or is there something else that is similar in characteristics, but that would enjoy a damp area with indirect light. I had considered some kind of mint, but it would need to grow at least 2" tall, and don't know of a variety that would do that. I had a rosemary plant there but had to move it due to lack of sun.
Feedback and suggestions appreciated.

Doesn't sound like a good place for boxwood. Dwarf yaupon holly would be better but it can't stand wet feet all the time. Both plants would prefer more sun. Either can and should be planted right away for ideal timing.

Thought I'd follow up. I did put a boxwood there in Nov and it's doing great, so far. Even though water collects there when it rains, the soil is more sandy than the thick black soil in the rest of the yard. The sand must have been added when the pipes were laid. Worked out well for the boxwood.