I have a patio surrounded by walls. The airconditioner sits on the ground in one corner, the potted plants are lined up alongside of one wall. I mounted a large sheet of clear, see-thru plexiglas on a stand, drilled holes and screwed it on to the stand, to protect the bush that sits right next to the airconditioner. This way the heat goes straight up.
Of course the whole patio is warm during the summer, but the hot air is not blowing directly on the plants.
The bush hides the stand, and you can't see the plexiglas.
Maybe this helps?
Ingrid