Your air conditioner’s exterior unit may not be pretty, especially in comparison to the garden surrounding it. How can you make your space a bit more attractive, without impinging on the air conditioner, which needs to easily disperse heat and draw in the air? Here are some ideas for landscaping around your air conditioner.
Distance
Plants need to be two to three feet away from the air conditioner. Otherwise, they block airflow, which will make the unit retain heat and undermine its energy efficiency. If you plan to add plants around the unit, you will need to ensure that once those plants are fully mature they will not be too close to the unit. You may also have to trim the plants down every year, ideally in the spring before you turn the air conditioner on.
To make enough room, you may have to extend your garden bed out from the unit. You can make it a gradual curve out or create a box-like garden bed to enclose the plants. Some people put up a trellis around the air conditioner unit to block the sight of it entirely.
Plant Options
What kind of plants should you put in your garden to block out the view? There are a ton of options to consider. In general, tall plants are a good idea. Consider these:
- Evergreen shrubs
- Ornamental grasses
- Flowering shrubs
Or, if you have planted a trellis to block out the air conditioner you might consider these climbing plants:
- Clematis
- Rose
- Ivy
- Morning glory
- Trumpet vine
If you don’t have the room for a trellis or taller plants, we suggest you try something vibrant beneath the air conditioner to distract from it. These are good options:
- Foxglove
- Alyssum
- Forget-me-not
- Thyme
- Sedums
Want to landscape around your air conditioner? At Lane’s Landscaping, we make landscaping easy. Contact us today to learn more!
Around the Air Conditioner
Leaving grass around the air conditioner isn’t the greatest idea. It can be annoying to get the lawnmower next to the unit. Instead, we recommend that you plant or put something there that doesn’t need any maintenance and keeps the weeds at bay to protect the air conditioner. Some options include:
- Rocks: Decorative stones are a great option that can allow moisture to drain away from the air conditioner. You can get stones in various colours and textures to suit your garden’s aesthetic.
- Mulch: Another great option, mulch will block out weeds and add a great look to the garden. Just be sure not to pile it too high or directly against the air conditioner as it retains moisture.
- Ground cover: Short ground cover plants are a great option because they won’t have to be mowed.
- Pavers: Pavers are an excellent option to keep weeds under control around the air conditioning unit.
Need help or supplies to landscape around your AC unit? Look no further. At Lane’s Landscaping Supplies, we are here to help! Contact us today to learn more.
Sources:
https://www.huskyair.com/blog/hvac-friendly-landscaping/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/design/lideas/air-conditioner-landscaping.htm