Central air conditioning units aren’t the most appealing to look at and they tend to take away from the landscape of the home. There are many different ways to hide an A/C unit. The most common practice is to plant shrubs around the A/C. Shrubs can help blend an A/C unit into the natural landscape and provide it with shelter. Here are some tips to use for choosing the correct shrubs and to ensure they are planted correctly:

One of the most vital points in this process is choosing the correct shrubs. The first aspect to consider is the size. You want a shrub large enough to hide and protect the A/C but not too large to make it run inefficiently. A typical size is around four foot in height. Also do not choose any shrubs that are invasive. These shrubs will grow quickly and outside of the growing area into the A/C. The final characteristic to note is to pick a “clean” shrub that will not be dropping leaves or debris often. The debris from the shrub could drop into the A/C and cause issues.

The best time for planting is in the spring, giving the shrubs time to develop over the summer months. Ensure the plant is at least two feet from the A/C and has ample room to mature. Plant the shrub plants around the A/C so that they will hide it, but be sure to allow enough room for maintenance. Dig the hole two times wider than the current container that it is in and about the same depth. Place the root ball in the hole and supplement in an enriched garden soil. This will provide the correct soil mixture for optimum growth. Water the shrub immediately after planting.

Water the plant often and keep moist until the shrubs are mature. The shrubs also need to be fertilized regularly. Use a specially formulated plant food to provide the correct amount of fertilizer. Use the recommended rates on the fertilizer package. Trim the shrub to keep it from growing into the A/C and to keep the shape. Make sure the area around the A/C and the A/C itself is clear of any shrub debris.

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