Creating dead zone around AC unit

My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are so deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it melts, I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom
Loading thread data ...

Agent Orange or the current commercial equivalent?

Lou

Reply to
LouB

I avoid weed killers, since so many animals use my yard as a dinner table, but I might make an exception in this instance because once the area is covered, nothing will be eating there unless there's a type of animal which eats stones the size of ping pong balls.

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

what IS the current commerical equiv that you can buy at Lowe's?

Reply to
me

How about just grading the area so that water runs off the plastic rather than ponding. Direct it away from the house.

If you wanted to get fancy, install a french drain system.

Reply to
Charles

A course or three of paver blocks is a zillion times better than spending your life cussing small stones.

Reply to
brooklyn1

2-4-D is still available, at least in Oregon. It was a component of Agent Orange, along with 2-4-5-TP, if memory serves.

There are some other weed killers which proport to have an extended effect for up to a year.

Reply to
Charles

Tractor hydraulic fluid, and "purple" degreaser come to mind...

Reply to
Pete C.

Landscaping fabric allows water to go through and inhibits weed growth. It can be put under a layer of gravel instead of plastic.

Reply to
Art Todesco

That's an interesting idea. Could be disassembled like Legos if necessary, too.

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

Why not a precast concrete or recycled pop bottle AC pad, tilted slightly away from the house to prevent ponding? They come in several sizes, and can pretty easily be slipped under the AC unit without disconnecting it. May need a few shims under the coil box to keep it level, but that is easy enough. If there is slack in the cables and hoses, also a good idea to raise the box up a few inches.

-- aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

That's what I have, one of those cast fiberglass like pads, I always thought that was the manditory default, had one at my last house too. I'm sure it would require a few strong backs to insert a pad after the fact:

formatting link

Reply to
brooklyn1

You are right about the plastic being a bad idea. We have landscape fabric, available in different strengths, with river rock on top and used in similar areas where nothing grows. We have Trex on our finger dock, about 7 years old. Full sun, all day, Florida. Concrete pavers or black vinyl lawn edging work nicely around the rock and contain it well.

Reply to
norminn

I've got the same type of pad, but still, I'd like a barren area for a foot or two around the thing.

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

And if there is you might hope the bad stuff gets it:-))

Reply to
LouB

whose that pussy in the window?

Reply to
skeeter

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in news:aKt3m.1183$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe16.iad:

We killed a law area once with newspaper. Thick layer, hold down with rocks. I have to do something like you want in the corner where our AC is.

Reply to
Han

Have heard that one before and it works.

Reply to
LouB

I use newspaper in some of my vegetable & flower beds. Works, but it'll be gone in a season. Not appropriate for the area I'm talking about here.

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

Then I think the patio pavers would be the best solution. I just string trim, would still need to edge around patio blocks or anything else, but I've no idea if you have lawn. I'd choose most anything before small stones... a plastic edging filled with pine bark nuggets like I have prevents weeds (I have barrier cloth under the nuggets). I had to install the fence as that is the third shrub, deer got the previous two... nothing else works other than fencing.

Originally I had no fence, a week later I had no shrub, that little cyprus is long gone:

formatting link
can use 6X6 landscape ties too... one morning I woke up to shrubs munched down to nubs, so that's why I now have fence all around:
formatting link
the shrubs grow and the galvanized wire fencing dulls it's not very noticeable:
formatting link
learned long ago not to skimp on landscaping lumber/materials, I hate do overs.

I spent a fortune on every deer repellant on the market, spent many, many hours spraying, even in fridgid winter weather, and then having to wash the stink off my clothes and myself... all to no avail... only a fence works.

Reply to
brooklyn1

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.