How do I cheaply hide a huge heat pump that was installed next to the steps into my new addition? It is about3-4 ft. tall and at least 2 ft. sq.. I should explain that my entire yard is a mess with my new mother-in-law apt. I've added to my home. I had to have a septic system installed for my apt. and while I was worrying about how to landscape my yard the heat pump was installed and that looms as such a large problem I can't even think about my yard right now. Any suggestions?

You can plant shrubs around it but be sure to ask first how far away from the heat pump they have to be. You don't want them to interfere with the air intake (if it has one)

The heat pump vents at the top and back but any suggestions to what shrubs I could use that will grow 4 ft. tall but are not very broad because a sidewalk will go in front of the heat pump? I have an existing fence opening that the sidewalk needs to end at and that means the sidewalk can't be too far from the wall the heat pump is in front of-you would go down about three steps onto a concrete pad and then make a right on the sidewalk to go to the gate in the fence. The heat pump sits in this right side corner of steps, sidewalk and house wall. There is no space between the steps and heat pump but the sidewalk has not been poured yet. Thank you so much for responding.

not sure what the sun is like around the unit, but you might consider skip laurel. great for creating a barrier, they're evergreen and won't get carried away in size and will top out 7-9 feet, but you can control that.

Why don't you go to the general gardening board and post a pic. That might help get you a better answer.

Thank you-I'll check it out.

Thank you-I'm new to this so I will check it out.