The beauty of having your own yard is that you have your own outdoor space to relax in and entertain guests.
However, that peace and quiet can often be interrupted by the sounds from passing traffic, neighbors, and public spaces.
That doesn’t have to be a problem.
There are many species of trees that will absorb sound and create some sort of sound buffer around your property. So even if you live near a busy road, you won’t be interrupted and can appreciate the soothing nature of your garden.
In this guide, we’re going to look at some of the best noise reducing, fast-growing trees so you don’t have to wait too long to get your well-deserved outdoor oasis.
What To Look For In a Sound Barrier Tree/
When choosing a tree that “absorbs” noise, several things should be considered.
Later in this guide we will explore some of the best noise reducing trees, but if you want to broaden your search, look for the following points.
- Dense foliage in trees includes trees with large leaves that grow very close together.
- Bark with rougher textures is more effective at cancelling noise.
- Trees with lots of branches, both top and bottom structure, are preferable.
- Trees that grow taller are more effective at blocking noise.
- Wider trees are better at sound reduction.
- If the tree is evergreen, it creates an effective sound barrier regardless of the season.
- Fast growing trees will get bigger faster, therefore offering privacy sooner.
Best Fast Growing Sound Barrier Trees
There are plenty of trees and plants that can effectively block out sound and there are plenty of fast growing options that will minimize the wait that you have until you can enjoy the benefits.
Below are a few of our favorites.
#1. Arborvitae.
You might occasionally hear this referred to as Thuja as it is part of the cedar family.
These trees are generally recognized as conifers, and they are, which means that they will provide sound barrier for the year being evergreen.
The leaves are needle-like for arborvitaes being flat and thin however aren’t like pine needles.
Many gardeners like these for landscaping uses as they are used for excellent visual barriers as well as blocking sound.
#2. Bamboo.
The bamboo plant grows natively in Asia, and while it is technically a grass as opposed to a tree, it still excels at keeping sounds out of your garden.
One of the main advantages of bamboo plants is how fast growing they are and this is exactly what you should want when picking your sound barrier plant.
While the stems of bamboo are hollow, they are super thick and sturdy and when we say it will grow quickly; you can expect bamboo to grow most recently at rates of around 3 feet in less than 24 hours!
Wouldn’t you like to know more?
Well, allow us to explain that bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world!
With this in mind, we recommend that you be cautious in your planting location as it could become invasive.
#3. Fir.
Fir trees, an evergreen, coniferous tree, are great for blocking sound all year round.
They are also related to the cedar and are capable of growing very tall if you let them.
These trees can grow as high as 250 feet giving you ample height for an effective sound barrier tree.
They can reach widths of up to 13 feet but for most homeowners this is way too big.
As with many large trees, it is very important to take good care of the fir tree because they can be plagued by caterpillars.
Caterpillars will nibble the foliage quickly so it’s important to take care of them quickly.
Fir trees on average will take about ten years to fully reach their full height and they will grow one to two feet consistently each year.
#4. Pine.
Pine trees are also conifers, and their leaves are similar to the arborvitae, in that they are needle-like, but not quite flat.
The needles, though thin, are not completely flat and, are a rich green color.
Interestingly, pine trees are typically milled for their lumber; however, this is also wood that is an exceptional sound barrier!
Like other trees in this class, a pine tree can grow to impressive heights upwards of 250 feet!
Again, they are very long-lived trees, with reported lifespans of up to 700 years (extreme cases!)
If you are looking for a tree that will act as a noise barrier for the time you have in the property, this is a good option.
Most species of pines can too, grow more than two feet a year!
#5. Spruce.
It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that the spruce is also a member of the evergreen conifer family and is found growing in temperate areas.
Like all of these trees, they are going to grow quite tall, and can grow app to 200 ft tall!
The spruces also grow very quickly compared to many other species of trees.
In general, you can expect them to gain at least 1 meter per year.
#6. Laurel.
Sometimes, people will refer to this tree as the Cherry Laurel or the English Laurel, but they’re essentially the same.
This is another evergreen and one that, if left alone, will take a long time to become tall.
These typically gain about 60cm per year, which isn’t bad, but the growing process can be sped up with pruning and a premium quality fertilizer.
These trees have shiny, dark green foliage that is very dense and contributes to their effectiveness at noise reduction.
What’s even better: You can prune them into so many different and interesting shapes that they will block noise and also look good at the same time.
#7. Holly.
Many people think of holly as a shrub but it’s in fact a family of trees called Aquifoliaceae.
So we will be honest with you, holly isn’t the fast growing plant in the world but it does grow to around 4 meters which is ideal for creating a sound barrier.
So if you can be patient this could be worth a try.
Conclusion
While some of us are lucky enough to have a quiet garden we can relax in, others are facing noise from traffic, animals, neighbors and so on.
But it doesn’t need to be a problem, these trees will quickly bloom out to make a beautiful natural sound barrier.