Landscape Plants That Can Help with Privacy and Noise Reduction
When you live in a busy neighborhood, things can get noisy—and nosy. Protecting your privacy and cutting down on noise are two goals landscaping can help achieve. When you work with a great landscape designer, they can help you design a yard that’s beautiful, easy to maintain and makes your home feel like a quiet oasis.
Here’s an overview of how you can use certain plants to shield your home from noise and nosy neighbors:
Tall hedges: Thick, tall hedges are a great way to shield your property as well as block out noise from traffic and other neighbors. However, it takes a while for hedges to fill out—as opposed to trees, which will grow relatively quickly. You may want to ask your landscape designer whether fully-grown hedges are available for planting.
Evergreen trees: Evergreens, like densely planted cypress trees, are excellent for blocking out noise. Their branches and greenery create multiple layers, which block sound. Italian cypress, when planted closely together, makes an excellent “fence,” too, and its striking shape will look beautiful in any yard.
Water features: Although it’s not strictly a plant, one great way to reduce noise is to add white noise. Water features create a pleasant trickling sound, which can override traffic noise and neighborly chatter. When combined with other landscape design methods, like hedges and trees, they can make your yard seem like a quiet haven.
Mixed shrubs: Planting different sizes and shapes of shrubs can also block a lot of noise. Although shrubs usually aren’t as tall as hedges or trees, they provide an attractive way to cut down on some of the noise in your neighborhood. Holly is a great evergreen shrub that looks beautiful and helps reduce noise all year long.
Lush deciduous trees: You don’t have to limit yourself to evergreens. Dense, lush deciduous trees like magnolias are a great option for noise reduction, shade and privacy. If you pick a flowering version, you’ll be treated to spectacular blooms in the warmer months.
Tips for privacy and noise reduction
When you’re designing your new yard, there are two main things to remember: your barrier plants need to be planted close together, and if you have a privacy fence or sound wall, they should be placed as close to the source as possible.
Sound waves move through any open spots in your barriers, so if the hedges and trees are too patchy, you won’t be able to effectively reduce the noise. That’s why it’s best to use plants and trees in conjunction with fences and sound walls. Not only will that drastically help cut down on the noise, but it also increases your perception of noise reduction. When you can’t see the source of the noise, the brain is fooled into thinking sounds are quieter.
When you’re ready to plant your own noise-reducing, privacy-enhancing foliage, get in touch with the landscape designers at RainforestLA, Inc. to arrange a consultation. We’ll work with you to create a peaceful space you’ll love.