Gardening Ideas Around Air Conditioner

Landscape architect Margie Grace of Grace Design Associates knows beautiful gardens—and designing a successful one is about more than charm and elegance. Homeowners should be aware of the pitfall of installing one that doesn't quite belong. "[Some gardens] look like they're stuck on top of the land," she explains. "They're not in harmony with the site or integrated into the space." In the same way, if you have an outdoor heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, creating a space for it that won't look out of place can make all the difference.

An industry expert, Grace's newly released book, Private Gardens of Santa Barbara: The Art of Outdoor Living showcases outstanding spaces she's created. Here, she shares her favorite tricks for landscaping around a freestanding AC unit, including plant recommendations, placement suggestions, and tips for helping it blend into its surroundings.

Trane XV20i TruComfort Variable Speed Air Conditioner

Trane Residential trane.com/residential

First, Find a Good Spot

"If [I'm working on] a side yard, I'll often put the air conditioner there," Grace says. "Ideally, it's not in one of the most heavily trafficked areas, like by the front door or on a back patio where all the barbecuing happens. I'm also looking for a shady area." Shade keeps the unit's temperature down so it doesn't have to work as hard. An industry favorite, Trane's XV20i TruComfort Variable Speed AC is designed to integrate easily into landscaping. It's known for being efficient and reliable, as well as operating quietly.

Situate It Properly

Grace points out that the HVAC unit should go atop concrete, whether that's poured or slabs. "You don't want any plants within three feet of the unit," she says. "I often fill in that border zone with gravel rather than mulch, because it stays put better." Keep in mind, the unit needs to be accessible for service and maintenance, which is something you should do seasonally. You don't want your local HVAC technician scrambling over hedges or having to trample a whole section of the garden just to get to the unit.

Choose Plants Wisely

Even with three feet of spacing around the unit, avoid plants that shed excessively so your HVAC unit stays clear of debris. "When it comes to plant choice, you want something that doesn't get you into trouble in conditions or seasons that are different from the one you're planting in." Tall grasses surrounding a beach house's HVAC unit may seem ideal, but they tend to routinely drop their leaves. Even when planted three feet away, their floppiness becomes a problem in the wind.

With this in mind, Grace looks for dense, non-flashy plants. Evergreens don't shed their leaves when the cold sets in, which translates to year-round coverage. Bay laurel, river wattle, and fern pine are a few of her favorites, and she's also partial to coast rosemary or upright rosemary.

Landscape Architect-Approved Plants

Bay Laurel Tree

fast-growing-trees.com

Cousin Itt Little River Wattle

monrovia.com

Fern Pine Tree/Hedge

budgetplants.com

Tuscan Blue Rosemary

thegreenhousepnw.com

Build a Bed

"If I've got some space around the HVAC, I might build a garden bed with taller plants around it just beyond the border zone, diminishing the height of plants as they move further from the unit," Grace says. "'Softening' is how I describe the role plants play here. You don't want people doing a double take because something looks out of place." But if a garden bed around the unit would inhibit pathways, Grace might use tall, narrow planters instead, or just a trellis with vines.

Consider Screens or Fencing

In fact, Grace often uses garden screens or trellis panels around HVACs, adding climbing plants like purple lilac vines or miniature grape ivy to introduce texture and contrast. "Paired with the rectangular trellis panel, you get this wild-haired or loose-climbing vine and it works really nicely," she says.

Using some sort of screen will allow for proper airflow while also protecting the unit from errant soccer balls, a puppy prone to chewing, or, if there's grass nearby, debris from mowing. (As for smaller particles like pollen, dust, and pet dander, Trane's "CleanEffects" system filters incoming air and eliminates irritants before they enter the home.)

Beautify With Screens & Planters

Willow Tri-Panel Cover

plowhearth.com

Veradek Corten Steel Planter

amazon.com

Resin Wicker Screen Enclosure

target.com

Weathered Cedar Patio Planter

amazon.com

Hew to Theme

If your garden has a temporal or regional theme, try to incorporate that in the area around the HVAC unit. "If I have a Japanese maple providing shade, then I might use bamboo panels around the HVAC," Grace says. If a garden has a wild, naturalistic feel, woven wicker panels will likely work better than something more formal. Large industrial-style planters may efficiently cover an HVAC unit in a historically influenced garden, but since they're not in keeping with the theme, the discontinuity will likely draw more unwanted attention to the area.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io