A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2006 unsightly air conditioner

Does anyone have any ideas what I can use or how I can camouflage a central air conditioning unit that must take residency in my garden. It is ghastly looking. Can't block it, needs ventilation. Pleeeeease someone give me ideas!

Hi Andi

Your right you cannot cover it, at my last house I had a similiar problem, I took trellis I had or you could use chicken wire or whatever your preference is, and put around it, back several feet so if needs repair/cleaning whatever can get in, leave a small opening to.

plant some fast growing ivy, you would not want anything like shrubs with deep roots, and just keep training to climb up, and soon you will not see..

Just an idea?

Good day Angie

Thanks Angie, one of my friends also said to use an ornate fireplace screen. Just have to find one of them huh?

I would say lattice.
Or some very large pots with free standing trellises that can be moved if need be. web pagegoogle picture ideas

Wrennie

That is a great idea! not only coverage, moveable as well...have to remember that:-) good tip

Angie

I made an a/csurround using an old twin-bed wicker head board and fastend it with with hinges to two used wooden baby gates. I painted all white and it is quite attractive.

Sounds great! Thanks for the ideas!

can't you build like a big cage with a trellis and grow like sweet peas every year so that it cover it? You have to leave a gate so if the repair man comes by he won't have to kill th plants.

I've wondered about that too !!! I'd like to put a trellis but the fan in it blows hot air and any chance of something surviving there seems nel and none grass won't even grow there but it's sooo warm and dry is there a vine of sort that can handle such hot air constantly blowing in the spring/summer here?? I have also just thought about a white trellis with ornate things adheared to it birds, butterflys, dragonflys etc , and weave (dare I say even tho I'd be the only one looking at it I'd want it to be pleasing to my eye too

I just saw a hog panel arbour mentioned on the frugal forum and thought it would be great over my air conditioner because the manufacturer's instructions say there must be significant air ventilation (6'+) around all sides:

http://www.bondpiano.com/Dirt2006/hogpanelarbor.html

I realize some people won't have access to hog panel or, like me, have figured out how to get some from the farm supply to my home....yet! But it's a neat idea. I like the height of it as well.