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“Can you reduce noise pollution with trees?” is a question we’re often asked by customers, especially when they’re dealing with unwanted sounds from neighbours or busy surroundings. It’s a great question, and the answer is yes, they can!
While we often discuss using hedges and trees to create natural privacy screens or to hide unsightly views, their benefits can extend to mitigating noise pollution as well.
Out of sight out of mind
Did you know that visual cues significantly impact our perception of sound? Studies suggest that when the source of a noise is hidden, we tend to perceive it as quieter. This principle can be beautifully applied to your garden by using hedges as natural privacy and sound screens.
Almost any hedge can serve this purpose, but denser foliage offers greater effectiveness. For a refined and classic look, consider using Box replacements with tightly packed, small leaves. Euonymus ‘Jean Hugues’ is an excellent option. If faster growth is a priority, Leyland cypress (Leylandii) will quickly establish a dense barrier of soft, evergreen needles, providing effective sound dampening. The added benefit of these evergreen options is year-round screening and noise reduction.
Increasing pleasant sounds to mask sounds
Introducing the calming sounds of nature to your garden can be a wonderful way to create a more peaceful environment and help to soften other disruptive noises. For instance, the gentle rustling of leaves can be particularly soothing. A Bamboo hedge is an excellent choice for this, as it grows readily to an impressive height and creates this lovely sound.
The delightful sound of birdsong is another welcome addition to any garden. Fortunately, almost any hedge will encourage birds, offering them places to nest and seek shelter. Opting for a UK native hedge is a fantastic way to start attracting local wildlife.
Solid barriers are best
When using plants for soundproofing, it’s important to remember that sound travels through the air. This means that the most efficient way to reduce noise is to create a solid barrier that stops the airflow between you and the source of the sound.
To maximise noise reduction, the barrier should be as tall as possible and extend right down to the ground, minimising any gaps for sound to travel through. When choosing which type of plant to install, you should select a variety that offers dense growth from the ground up. If space allows, planting multiple parallel rows of hedging will maximise its sound-blocking capabilities. You can then allow the hedge to grow as tall as is needed.
Leylandii is an excellent choice for this purpose. While it sometimes gets a reputation for being difficult to manage, regular trimming a few times a year will easily keep it neat and tidy.
The ultimate garden screen
Combining a solid structure, like a fence or wall, with an elevated natural screen is one of the best solutions you’ll find for blocking sound in your garden! However, we understand this isn’t always feasible due to space limitations or planning regulations regarding height.
If this is feasible for you, planting a row of standard trees along your fence or wall is worth considering. These trees have a smaller footprint at ground level compared to a dense hedge, as the foliage sits atop a clear 1.8m stem. This creates a solid mass of foliage above the fence line, effectively increasing the barrier’s height without planning issues. Our favourite varieties are the Cherry laurel and Photinia ‘Red Robin’ as they are both evergreen and provide year-round screening.
Hopefully this article helped to explain how you can reduce noise pollution with trees. If you have any further questions feel free to contact us or visit the nursery. We’re always happy to help!
For more information:
Hornbeam trees used to create privacy in the garden of a new build
