In this blog post, we will talk about, “How to reduce road noise in the garden?”, and discuss the common methods of noise reduction. We will also shine a light on the art of making gardens soundproof and the factors to consider when soundproofing a garden. Lastly, we will give you 5 ways to reduce road noise in the garden.
How to Reduce Road Noise in the Garden?
Reducing road noise in the garden is not impossible and you can easily do so by opting for one or more of the following ideas;
- Erect a Noise-Reduction Fence
- Soundproof the Existing Fence
- Planting Hedges
- Add a Fountain
- Build a Wall.
Methods of Noise Reduction
Soundproofing a garden revolves around two methods; Sound attenuation and Sound Deflection. The goal is to either absorb or deflect the airborne sounds.
Sound Attenuation
Sound attenuation functions by converting vibrational energy or sound into thermal energy or heat. It is best to understand this principle with an example of a sponge that absorbs the water on contact.
In the same way, sound attenuation elements absorb sounds before they cause any nuisance. It is an effective way to muffle sounds and curtail their intensity to soundproof your garden. Shrubs and trees all help reduce road noise in the garden by following the principle of sound attenuation.
Strategic placement of trees and shrubs in a garden helps you absorb unwanted sounds and make the garden soundproof.
Sound Deflection
Sound deflection is exactly what the name suggests, and it is the art of deflecting unwanted road noises away from the garden. All solid barriers such as walls or fences help in effectively deflecting disturbing road sounds.
In terms of soundproofing efficiency, this method is better than sound attenuation. However, it is also more expensive. Although you can opt for cheaper ways to deflect sound like using wooden fences instead of masonry walls.
Making Your Gardens Soundproof
Making your garden soundproof is a complicated task if you aren’t sure what to do and how to do it. It seems like killing the annoying traffic noise is impossible, but there’s nothing that says we can’t reduce it…
If you live next to a busy road or if your neighbors are a bit too noisy, you need to think about making your garden soundproof. Knowing the right tricks can simplify this job for you and help you achieve the peace you desire.
Most importantly, you won’t even have to break the bank to achieve the peace you want as there are many cost-effective noise reduction methods at your disposal.
From planting boundary hedgings to strategically placing shrubs in your garden, there are many ways you can soundproof your garden with the help of the sound attenuation method. Thick hedges are incredibly helpful in muffling road noises in the long run.
This is not a quick fix but something you can invest your time in if you want to make your garden soundproof in the years to come. There are certainly a few highly effective rapid solutions such as building a wall or erecting a fence.
This helps you eliminate or reduce the road noise in the garden by deflecting sounds off the hard surfaces. There are many options available to you if you decide to walk this path. You can try adding a brick, masonry, stone, or even concrete wall to achieve the desired level of sound insulation in your garden.
Factors to Consider When Soundproofing a Garden
Now you know the science behind soundproofing a garden and it’s time we move onto the next stage. Here we will discuss what you need to know if you want to soundproof a garden by using sound barriers. You must consider the following four factors when soundproofing a garden in this way;
- Height of the barrier
- Rigidity/solidity of the barrier
- Total Coverage
- Barrier Placement
Height of the Barrier
It is desirable to have a barrier around 2 meters high to effectively block road noises. The saying “Out of sight, out of mind’ best applies when choosing the height of the barrier.
In simple words, the higher the barrier, the better it is, just make sure to keep in mind the maximum height provisions permissible by law.
Rigidity/Solidity of the Barrier
Next comes solidity, it is no rocket-science that the denser the barrier the better it is. We all know how mass addition helps us achieve sound insulation by projecting sounds back to their source. So, it is best to invest in a fairly thick fence or wall to better soundproof your garden.
Total Coverage
A solid fence, wall, or any sound barrier is one with zero holes or empty spaces. There is no point in erecting a sound barrier with holes to permit the ingress of sound. Thus, always opt for a barrier that gives you maximum total coverage and has zero spaces for sound waves to seep through.
Barrier Placement
You may not know this, but fence placement can have a big impact on your desire to perfectly soundproof your garden. The goal is to restrict sound from entering into your garden that’s why it is best to place barriers at positions near to the sound source e.g. on the side facing the road or the noisy neighbors’ house.
5 Ways to Reduce Noise in the Garden
Luckily, there are effective ways to reduce road noise in the garden. Some are relatively cheap while some may cost you a bit. Nevertheless, every idea does help in making your garden soundproof. Here are 5 ways to do so;
- Erect a Noise-Reduction Fence
- Soundproof the Existing Fence
- Planting Hedges
- Add a Fountain
- Build a Wall
Erect a Noise-Reduction Fence
An acoustic barrier fence or a noise-reduction fence is one effective way to soundproof your garden effectively. These fences are built with an interior core having an acoustic material usually fiber wool or mass-loaded vinyl.
These fences are effective, yet expensive particularly if your garden’s perimeter is particularly large. With the extra mass, these fences project back unwanted road noise and curtail noise pollution.
Soundproofing the Existing Fence
If adding a new fence is not an option why not soundproof the existing one? A normal garden fence is full of holes and what you need to do is seal these holes to make them soundproof.
If you have a wooden or vinyl fence, it gets much easier. One thing you must keep in mind is the height of the fence. Ideally, it should be around 2 meters high. You can also try sticking a sound deadening mat to achieve better insulation.
Planting Hedges
Hedges are tall, bushy, and naturally-soundproof. You can plant hedges around the garden’s perimeter to soundproof your garden naturally.
However, this is a long-term fix and you need to invest a good 4-5 years to help them mature and become bushy. However, potted hedge plants are good alternatives to soundproof your garden naturally in a quick time.
Add A Fountain
A water fountain neither absorbs sound nor it reflects but what it does is mask unwanted road noise with a pleasant one. Adding a fountain or stream can help take your focus away from disturbing sounds and direct it towards a calming sound of water flow.
Build a Wall
Lastly, you can also go the conventional way and build a solid masonry, concrete, or brick wall to soundproof your garden. It is expensive yet one of the most effective ways to soundproof a garden.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we talked about, “How to reduce road noise in the garden?”, and discussed the common methods of noise reduction.
We also highlighted the art of making gardens soundproof and the factors to consider when soundproofing a garden. Lastly, we gave you 5 ways to reduce road noise in the garden.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to Reduce Road Noise in the Garden?
How can I make my garden soundproof?
The simplest way to soundproof a garden is by positioning thick shrubs in the garden strategically. The goal is to deflect unwanted sounds and make the garden calm and peaceful.
Adding a tall garden fence is another good option if you want to curtail traffic noises. Adding a solid barrier like a fence makes the sound bounce back off the surface.
How do I stop my neighbors’ noise in my garden?
The best way to soundproof your garden against airborne noises from the neighbor’s house is by adding sound-absorbing elements. Trees, shrubs, and plants all aid in absorbing sounds.
Every decibel counts and the goal is to have a garden with a mix of sound-absorbing and sound-deflecting elements to absorb or deflect as many decibels as possible.
You can also try adding a water fountain in the garden. This won’t particularly help in deflecting or absorbing sounds but will provide a charming distraction.
How can we reduce noise pollution in the garden?
Reducing noise pollution in the garden is all about making the right use of sound-absorbing and sound-deflecting elements. Trees and shrubs help absorb sounds while fences and barricades deflect sounds back to their source. Here are a few ways to reduce noise pollution in the garden;
- Plant shrubs to absorb sounds
- Add water fountain as a distraction
- Landscape creatively
- Add a fence
- Deploy a wildlife-friendly setting
What plants make good noise barriers?
A properly-insulated garden has a mix of shrubs, covers, and trees to block or deflect noises. In terms of shrubs, laurel or holly are a couple of great choices while ivy and juniper make the perfect ground cover. Additionally, Pine or Fir trees are awesome sound barriers and can help you deflect back unwanted airborne noises.
How do I block road noise in my yard?
Achieving the perfect sound insulation in your yard is next-to-impossible as there is no way to block all the annoying road noises. However, you can block out these sounds to some extent or dampen their intensity to relish the exceptionality of your yard.
Adding sound barriers is the best way to block these unwanted noises. The solid surface of sound barriers helps deflect sounds back to their source. Brick, stone, or concrete masonry walls all help in achieving better sound insulation. Besides this, you can also try adding a wooden fence as it is highly effective too.
References
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/carlisle-house/21015370/yard-noise-reduction
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/204843/reducing-the-noise-from-road
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/204843/reducing-the-noise-from-road
https://beautyharmonylife.com/6-top-tips-to-soundproofing-your-garden/?amp
