The joy of having your own yard is that you have a private outdoor space to relax and entertain guests.
However, the peace and tranquility can often be disturbed by passing traffic, noise from your neigbors, and public spaces.
But this doesn’t have to be a problem.
There are several species of trees that will absorb sound and create something of a noise barrier around your property. So, even if you have a busy road running by, you won’t be disturbed and can enjoy the peace of your garden.
In this guide, we will be looking at some of the best sound-reducing trees that grow quickly so you won’t have to wait to get that well-deserved outdoor sanctuary.
What’s Important In a Sound Barrier Tree?
When it comes to choosing a tree that will absorb noise, there are a few things you will need to look for.
Later in this guide, we will introduce you to some of the most effective noise reducing trees but if you want to explore your options further, you should look out for the following things.
- Trees with dense foliage. For example, large leaves that grow very close together.
- Trees whose bark is rougher will be more effective at cancelling out noise.
- Trees that have lots of branches both at the top and bottom of the structure.
- Taller trees are much better at blocking out noise.
- The wider the tree, the better it will be at reducing sounds.
- If the tree is evergreen, this will mean it will be an effective sound barrier regardless of the season.
- Fast growing trees will get bigger more quickly, therefore giving you privacy much sooner.
What Are The Best Fast Growing Sound Barrier Trees?
There are many trees and plants that are excellent choices when it comes to blocking out sound and that will grow quickly, limiting the amount of time you have to wait to reap the benefits.
Here are some of our favorites.
1. Arborvitae
You might sometimes hear this one being called Thuja and it is a part of the cedar family.
Many would associate these trees as being conifers, and they would be right so what’s great about them is that they are evergreen and will provide a sound barrier for the entire year.
The leaves of the arborvitae are needle-like being flat and thin in shape, although they’re not similar to pine needles.
Many gardeners opt for these thanks to their suitability for landscaping and they provide an excellent visual barrier as well as blocking out sound.
2. Bamboo
The bamboo plant grows natively in Asia and while it is technically a type of grass as opposed to a tree, it is still excellent when it comes to keeping sounds out of your garden.
One of the best things about this plant is how fast growing it is which is exactly what you should be looking for when choosing a sound barrier plant.
While the stems are hollow, they’re super thick and durable and when we say it’ll grow fast; it is entirely possible for bamboo to grow a whopping three feet in as little as 24 hours!
Want to know more?
Well, let us tell you that bamboo is the fastest growing plant known to man!
With This in Mind: We would recommend being careful about where you plant it as it could become invasive.
3. Fir
The fir tree is another coniferous tree that is evergreen and so ideal for year-round sound blocking.
This one is also related to the cedar and will grow very tall if you allow it to.
In fact, these trees can grow up to 250 feet so you’ve got the height needed for an effective sound barrier tree.
Moreover, they can get up to 13 feet in width although for most homeowners, this is far too large.
It is important to keep these trees well maintained and cared for as they are prone to problems with caterpillars.
These little critters will quickly nibble up the foliage so it’s important to stay on top of them.
While fir trees will take around ten years to reach their full height, they will gain one to two feet each year consistently.
4. Pine
Pine trees are another type of conifer and their leaves are similar to the arborvitae we talked about earlier, but not quite the same.
In this case, the needles are thin but not entirely flat and have a rich green color.
What’s interesting is that, while pine trees are usually milled for their lumber, this wood is also a very effective sound blocker.
Much like other trees in this class, the pine tree can grow to staggering heights up to around 250 feet.
They’re also very long lasting trees and can live up to 700 years! But of course, that’s in extreme cases.
But if you’re looking for a tree that will serve as a noise blocker for the length of time you’ll be in the property, they’re a good choice.
Plus most species will grow more than two feet a year!
5. Spruce
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the spruce is also a member of the evergreen coniferous family and this one thrives particularly well in temperate reasons.
Much like their cousins, these trees will grow very tall, with the largest getting up to 200 feet!
More interestingly, the spruce does grow very fast in comparison to many other types of trees.
Generally Speaking: You can expect them to gain at least one meter every year.
6. Laurel
Sometimes, you may hear people calling this the Cherry Laurel or the English Laurel but they’re all one of the same.
This is another evergreen tree that, when allowed, will get very tall over a long period of time.
They’ll typically gain around 60cm a year which is good going but it is possible to speed up the growing process through pruning and a good quality fertilizer.
These trees have shiny, dark green leaves that are very dense which is what makes them so effective in reducing noise.
What’s More: You can prune them into many interesting shapes so not only will they block noise but they’ll look great too.
7. Holly
Many people confuse holly with being a shrub but it’s actually from a family of trees known as Aquifoliaceae.
Now, we will be upfront with you, holly isn’t the fastest growing plant in the world but it does get to around 4 meters in height which is ideal for creating a sound barrier.
So, if you’re willing to wait, this might be an option worth considering.
Conclusion
While some of us are fortunate enough to have a quiet garden in which we can relax, other people are battling noise from traffic, animals, neighbors, and much more.
But it doesn’t have to be a problem, these trees will quickly bloom to create a beautiful, natural sound barrier.