Enhance Landscaping Around the AC with These Seven Tips

Lots of homeowners prefer central air conditioning for their HVAC system, but the outdoor AC isn’t exactly the decorative centerpiece people like having in their yard. Are you looking for a more comfortable home without ruining the yard’s look with a big metal eyesore? Thoughtful landscaping makes a big difference.

With the right plants or hardscaping, you can tuck away your AC unit and improve your yard’s appeal. But try and remember that there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach AC unit landscaping. Understanding the difference is crucial to maintain optimal AC performance.

Shield Your AC with Windbreaks

Using windbreaks into your AC unit landscaping strategy protects the air conditioner from severe weather. Evergreens work best as they keep their leaves all year-round. A few top shrubs for evergreen windbreaks include boxwood, junipers and Arborvitae.

If planted the right distance apart, your shrubs create a dense barrier that shields your AC unit from strong winds and blowing debris. Just double check that your windbreak is planted far enough away to maintain the 2 to 3 feet of clearance as the hedgerow matures.

Create Shaded Areas

Even the high summer temperatures feel tolerable when you step into the shade. You’re not the only one who appreciates the relief—your air conditioner also appreciates being out of the sun.

When doable, position the unit on the north side of your home so it’s in perpetual shade. If that’s not an option, use large shrubs to your advantage. Just avoid placing plants directly over the unit. Maintaining vertical clearance of 5 to 6 feet prevents restricting airflow. Then, remember to regularly trim branches to keep debris from clogging the condenser.

Arrange Plants Correctly

It’s a good start to keep enough distance from the unit itself. Keeping plants at least 2 to 3 feet away from the AC is essential. Remember, plants keep growing every summer, so you should arrange shrubs 2 to 3 feet away once they are fully grown.

This spacing ensures your air conditioner has adequate airflow to “breathe”, a requirement for efficient heat exchange and steady cooling. Ample clearance also prevents stressing your AC, which could lead to more failures and a shorter service life.

Provide Flexibility with Large Potted Plants

If you don’t want the bushes and shrubs overgrowing around the air conditioner as they mature, pivot to large potted plants. As long as the pot is big enough, the pots and plants can easily conceal the air conditioner while contributing to a cooler yard. These stylish, modular elements help you to modify the surroundings based on the time of year or as your aesthetic changes. It’s equally convenient to shift the pots slightly if the plants get too big or keep them out of the way during servicing.

Try a Gravel Garden

For a more manageable landscape solution, a gravel garden might be perfect. This kind of garden involves leaving your AC unit on a concrete base that’s elevated surrounded by gravel interspersed with mulched beds of hardy, drought-tolerant plants for additional color and life. The benefits for your yard are clear: less lawn to mow, fewer weeds and plants to control and a stylish look that reduces maintenance all year.

Remember to Maintain Access

Regardless of the landscaping choices you make, accessing your AC unit must remain unobstructed. After all, regular maintenance and repairs encourage HVAC longevity and efficiency. Build up your home’s landscaping so service technicians can easily access the AC, which means not planting anything on one or two sides. Taking this care will help your air conditioner perform optimally for as long as possible.

Incorporate a Trellis, Screen or Lattice

Not all solutions for concealing your air conditioner need to be entirely green. If you don’t have much room to work with or worry about plants dying, try these other options:

• Set up a portable screen to cover up your air conditioner while maintaining necessary air circulation. Double check it has a door or removable panel for easy access.

• Build a trellis around the outdoor cabinet and grow climbing or vining plants for a ‘green’ screen that enhances aesthetics and provides shade. Just make sure the vegetation doesn’t restrict airflow.

• Add a decorative lattice for a visually appealing cover that can blend the aesthetics of a trellis with the functionality of a screen. Refrain from adding a top cover, or that will impede airflow.

Schedule Your Professional Air Conditioning Services

With your landscaping plans figured out, you can focus on the air conditioner itself. If the unit is not performing well or it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Our ACE-certified technicians provide prompt, effective and lasting results to all your climate control problems. For Expert service that lives up to our name, please contact us today.