Enhance Landscaping Around the AC with These Seven Tips

Many homeowners are looking for the best central air conditioning these days, but the AC’s outdoor cabinet isn’t exactly the aesthetic feature people want in their backyard. Are you looking for a more comfortable home without spoiling the backyard with a big metal eyesore? Effective landscaping should do the trick.

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 tackle AC unit landscaping. Recognizing the special considerations is crucial to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and efficiently.

1. Space Plants Properly

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 essential. Remember, plants grow larger every year, so you should arrange shrubs 2 to 3 feet away as soon as they are fully grown.

Keeping plants 2 to 3 feet away ensures the AC has sufficient airflow to “breathe”, a requirement for efficient heat exchange and steady cooling. Adequate spacing also limits straining your system, which could lead to more malfunctions and a shorter life span.

2. Provide Shade

Even the hottest summer weather feels manageable when you step into the shade. You’re not the only one who feels the change—your air conditioner also appreciates being out of the sun.

If you can, situate the air conditioner on the north side of your home so it’s in constant shadow. If that’s not an option, use privacy hedges 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 rake leaves to keep debris from clogging the condenser.

3. Shield Your AC with Windbreaks

Using windbreaks into the AC system landscaping strategy protects the AC against harsh weather and storms. Evergreens are particularly effective as they stay green even in winter. A few top choices for evergreen windbreaks include boxwood, junipers and Arborvitae.

If you take care to plant them a safe distance apart, these plants create a dense barrier that shields your AC unit from strong winds and blowing debris. Just make sure your windbreak sits far enough back to maintain the 2 to 3 feet of clearance as the hedgerow matures.

4. Use Large Potted Plants for Adaptability

If you’re worried about shrubs encroaching on the AC unit as they mature, pivot to large potted plants. As long as they are big enough, the pots and plants can easily cover the AC while contributing to a cooler yard. These decorative, movable elements allow you to change the landscaping according to the season or as your aesthetic changes. It’s also easy to shift the pots slightly if the plants get too big or keep them out of the way during servicing.

5. Use a Trellis, Screen or Lattice Cover

Not all solutions for covering your AC system need to be entirely green. If you are short on space or are concerned about maintaining plants , try these other methods:

• Install a movable screen to cover up your air conditioner while ensuring the necessary air circulation. Check it has a door or easily removed part for quick access.
• Build a trellis around your AC unit and grow vines for a ‘green’ screen that enhances aesthetics and provides shade. Just make sure the vegetation doesn’t overcrowd airflow.
• Install a decorative lattice for a stylish cover that blends the aesthetics of a trellis with the functionality of a screen. Refrain from adding a top cover, or that will block ventilation.

6. Create a Gravel Garden

For a low-maintenance landscape solution, a gravel garden could be ideal. A gravel garden involves leaving your AC unit on a concrete base that’s elevated surrounded by gravel interspersed with mulched beds of tough plants for even more color and life. The benefits for your yard are clear: less grass to cut, fewer weeds and plants to control and a stylish look that reduces maintenance all year.

7. Ensure Easy Access

Whatever landscaping choices you make, access to your air conditioning unit must remain unblocked. After all, routine maintenance and repairs are vital for HVAC longevity and efficiency. Create the landscaping so service technicians can easily access the AC, which means not planting anything on a couple of sides. This thoughtful detail will help your air conditioner function at its peak for as long as possible.

Schedule Professional AC Services

With your landscaping plans sorted, you can turn your attention to the air conditioner itself. If the unit is acting up or it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit, call Xtra Mile. 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.