Creating a sound barrier in your outdoor space can significantly reduce unwanted noise. Consider incorporating plants like laurel, boxwoods, viburnum, and ivy to naturally minimize sound disturbances from outside sources.
These plants not only offer visual appeal but also serve as effective sound dampeners. By strategically placing them as hedges or flowering shrubs, you can enjoy a quieter and more peaceful outdoor environment. Ivy, in particular, provides an additional layer of noise reduction when grown on walls. Incorporating these plants in your landscape design can enhance your outdoor space while minimizing unwanted sounds.
These are the best plants when it comes to lowering nuisance sounds from a busy street to a loud voice:
- Laurel (hedge)
- Boxwoods (hedge)
- Viburnum (flowering shrubs)
- Ivy (the vines grow on walls and offer an additional layer of sound-dampening)
Do cedar trees block sound?
Cedar trees, particularly the Eastern red cedar, can effectively block sound. These trees can grow as tall as 40 feet and as wide as 20 feet, providing a natural barrier against noise. Additionally, since cedar trees are favored by birds, the sounds of birds chirping and singing can replace unwanted noises like traffic sounds when these trees are present in your backyard.
What is the best fence to reduce noise? For noise reduction, modular walls are the top choice. These modern acoustic fences resemble masonry brick walls but are cost-effective. They offer superior sound-dampening qualities and can serve as a retaining wall against existing fences. Additional noise-reducing tips include planting dense trees, using thick bushes, or adding sound-absorbing materials to existing fences. Installing double-sided fences or constructing fences with overlapping boards can also help reduce noise.
What vegetation is a sound barrier?
Plant materials, such as trees, shrubs, and vines have often been considered by homeowners as effective noise buffers. But unless they are properly designed, possibly along with a solid barrier, most landscape vegetation will accomplish little more than “out of sight, out of mind” reduction in noise.
Does grass absorb sound?
Grasses are an essential part of any landscape design. They not only add beauty and texture, but they can also act as a natural sound barrier. Grasses absorb sound waves and can reduce noise levels by up to 10 decibels. This is especially important for areas with high traffic or industrial noise.
What shrubs are good for sound barrier?
Juniper trees and shrubs are a great addition to any outdoor space, providing visual interest, evergreen foliage, and noise-blocking benefits. Juniperus communis (Common Juniper) and Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping Juniper) are two popular varieties that can help reduce noise levels in your yard.
How do I build a sound barrier in my backyard?
Build a fence or wall: A fence is a good way to block sounds from your neighbors, especially if the panels of the fence join together without leaving any gaps. Using thicker and more durable wood will also increase the sound-absorbing qualities of your fence. For the most soundproofing, consider building a garden wall.
Does bamboo deaden sound?
Unlike concrete, the plants absorb sound, so they may ultimately make highways quieter. “We think bamboo might make roads more quiet because the sound waves ‘diffuse’ in the bamboo hedge, rather than bouncing back from a traditional massive barrier,” Post says.
What is an example of a noise barrier?
Several different materials may be used for sound barriers. These materials can include masonry, earthwork (such as earth berm), steel, concrete, wood, plastics, insulating wool, or composites. Walls that are made of absorptive material mitigate sound differently than hard surfaces.
What plants are good for sound absorption?
We typically recommend using full plants such as lady palms or cast iron in darker spaces, or Schefflera amate in higher light areas. We’ve used these placed closely together in tall planters as a natural “wall” between spaces to help absorb sounds.
Can trees act as a noise barrier?
Not only do trees help absorb noise, they also reduce the perception of noise by creating a visual barrier between the source and the hearer.
Do shrubs block noise?
One of the most popular noise reduction strategies is clever landscaping. In essence, this is an attractive way to reduce surrounding noise in both commercial and residential properties by using certain shrubs, hedges, and trees to help act as a natural sound barrier.
Does bamboo block out sound?
The thick foliage of bamboo not only provides great screens and hedges, but can also be great as a windbreak or noise barrier. This is a feature that is becoming more popular in areas where roads are becoming busier and natural bushland is being removed.
Do arborvitae block sound?
Arborvitae has thick, dense foliage, so it’s one of the best plants to cancel out unwanted noise. Plus, it’s evergreen, so that effect lasts year round. Wind Barrier: As we’ve covered before, the right tree in the right place can shield your home and property from wind. That means energy savings!
What trees reduce sound?
the most effective trees are likely to be broadleaved evergreens (e.g. holly, evergreen oak and eucalyptus). Low shrubs and/or hedges along the edge of a group of trees can improve sound reduction, particularly those on the side nearest the sound source.
Which surface is more likely to absorb sound? Materials with lower densities tend to absorb more sound (such as melamine foam or cork). Also, thicker materials tend to absorb a wider range of sound frequencies than thinner materials.
Do fake plants help absorb sound?
Artificial plant walls from Greener Walls have emerged as an outstanding solution for privacy screening and noise reduction in both residential and business settings.
In conclusion, the best landscape for a sound barrier depends on various factors such as the specific area’s topography, vegetation, and distance from the noise source. Some effective landscapes for sound barriers include dense forests, earthen berms, and hills. It is important to carefully assess the unique characteristics of the surrounding environment to determine the most suitable sound barrier solution. Ultimately, effective sound barriers can help mitigate noise pollution and create more peaceful living environments for communities and individuals.