Create Great Landscaping Around Your AC System with These Seven Tips

Lots of homeowners want efficient central air conditioning for their homes, but the air conditioner isn’t exactly the visual highlight people want in their backyard. Do you want a cool, comfortable interior without spoiling the backyard with a big metal eyesore? Effective landscaping makes a big difference.

With the right visual barriers, you can tuck away your AC unit and improve your yard’s appeal. Just be aware that there’s a right way and a wrong way to approach AC unit landscaping. Recognizing the special considerations is crucial to ensure efficient AC operation.

1. Arrange Plants Correctly

It’s a good start to ensure adequate spacing from the unit itself. Keeping plants at least 2 to 3 feet away from the AC is especially worthwhile. As you know, plants grow larger each year, so you should arrange shrubs to be 2 to 3 feet away when they reach maturity.

Spacing plants 2 to 3 feet away ensures the AC has enough clearance for air circulation, a requirement for proper exhaust of heat and optimal climate control. Adequate spacing also prevents overworking your unit, which could lead to more breakdowns and a shorter life span.

2. Ensure Shade

Even the hottest summer weather feels bearable when you step into the shade. You’re not the only one who appreciates the relief—your air conditioner also benefits from shade.

Whenever possible, situate the air conditioner on the north side of your home so it’s in perpetual shade. If that’s not an option, use tall trees to your advantage. Just avoid placing plants directly over the unit. Maintaining vertical clearance of 5 to 6 feet prevents impeding ventilation. Then, remember to regularly rake leaves to keep debris from clogging the condenser.

3. Implement Windbreaks for AC Protection

Placing windbreaks into your AC unit landscaping strategy protects the AC against harsh weather and storms. Evergreens are ideal because they stay green even in winter. A few popular choices for evergreen windbreaks include boxwood, junipers and Arborvitae.

If planted the right distance apart, the shrubs create a dense barrier that blocks wind gusts carrying debris from reaching your AC. Just double check that your windbreak sits far enough back to maintain the 2 to 3 feet of clearance as the plants grow.

4. Provide Flexibility with Large Potted Plants

If you’re worried about shrubs overgrowing around the air conditioner as get bigger, opt for large container plants. As long as they are big enough, the pots and plants can easily cover the AC while still ensuring a cooler yard. These stylish, easily rearranged elements enable you to modify the surroundings based on the time of year or as your preferences change. It’s equally convenient to move the pots a bit if the plants are getting big or move them aside during maintenance visits.

5. Incorporate a Trellis, Screen or Lattice

Not all solutions for concealing your air conditioner need to be entirely from Mother Nature herself. If you lack space or worry about plants dying, try these other options:

• Place a freestanding screen to hide your AC while preserving necessary air circulation. Double check it has a hinged panel or removable panel for quick access.
• Install a trellis around the unit and grow climbing or vining plants for a natural screen that adds beauty and shade. Just make sure the vegetation doesn’t overcrowd airflow.
• Put in 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.

6. Try a Gravel Garden

For a more manageable landscape solution, a gravel garden might be perfect. This approach involves leaving your AC unit on a raised concrete platform surrounded by gravel interspersed with gardens of tough plants for extra color and life. The benefits are clear: less yard maintenance, fewer weeds to manage and a stylish look that reduces maintenance all year.

7. Ensure Easy Access

Whatever landscaping choices you make, easy access to your AC unit must remain unblocked. After all, preventive maintenance and repairs foster HVAC longevity and efficiency. Design your landscaping so maintenance technicians can easily reach the unit, which means not planting anything on a couple of sides. Taking this care will help your air conditioner function at its peak for years longer.

Schedule Your Professional Air Conditioning Services

With your landscaping plans sorted, you can focus on the air conditioner itself. If the unit is malfunctioning or it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit, call Environmental Systems Associates. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, effective and long-lasting solutions to all your HVAC issues. For Expert service that matches our reputation, please contact us today.