Plants perform a protective function for the garden plot quite effectively. Some of them cope well with road dust and dirt, others hide what is happening in the yard from prying eyes, and still others are best at absorbing the noise of roads and streets.
Sound-absorbing hedge It’s better to make it multi-tiered, and if space is limited, plant the plants in a checkerboard pattern.
Plants in the lower tier of a noise-protective fence
To form the lower tier, it is important to select low plants with a dense crown.
- Cherry laurel officinalis.
A voluminous, spreading evergreen shrub with a dense branched crown. The name comes from the external resemblance of the leaves to laurel leaves, and the fruits to cherry fruits. Only the fruits of cherry laurel are safe, they are edible and healthy, the rest of the plant is poisonous, including the seeds, and should not be swallowed under any circumstances. The plant itself is shade-tolerant and requires watering on hot days. In windless areas, a dense crown is formed, which, after cutting, keeps its shape for a long time.
- Cotoneaster brilliant.
This plant is called Russian boxwood. An unpretentious shrub with a massive crown, the foliage changes color depending on the time of year, but it always remains beautiful. It is easy to cut and keeps its shape for a long time. Cotoneaster is drought-resistant and tolerates both shaded and sunny areas.Suitable for multi-tiered planting, since the leaves begin to bloom earlier than others and this plant does not shed its crown for the longest time.
- Barberry is bluish-white.
Evergreen thorny ornamental shrub. Not tall, but grows strongly in width. It prefers partial shade and sunlight, is undemanding to the soil, tolerates drought well, is wind-resistant, is not afraid of frost, and also grows and develops fully in urban conditions. It grows slowly, has a thick dense crown, and almost does not need pruning.
Plants in the middle tier of a noise barrier
The following plants are best used when forming the middle tier of protective planting.
- Common hornbeam.
A heat-loving tree from the birch family. It grows up to 20 m, but as a noise-protective fence it is better to keep the height to 2 m. It grows slowly, the crown is dense, thinly branched, due to this it is easy to give any shape when cutting. This tree purifies the air well and forms a dense green wall. Some of the leaves remain on the crown until spring. It calmly tolerates rainy and windy weather; winter climate is also not a hindrance; in summer it needs additional irrigation. Gets along with any neighbors.
- Lilac.
Flowering shrub with many spreading trunks. The bush is abundantly covered with foliage, and during flowering - also with small flowers. The aroma is delicate, with a calming effect. The crown is dense, round or spreading. Frost-resistant, does not like drafts, it is better to choose a well-lit place. High resistance to diseases and pests. Lilac leaves do not change color before the onset of cold weather, but fall green. It is better to keep the height of the fence to 2 m.
- Hawthorn.
An ornamental plant with an average growth rate. The crown is dense, symmetrical, and easy to form. It is considered a good dust collector. The fruits of this shrub are edible and healthy. The shrub is light-loving and frost-resistant. Prefers moist and fertile soils.
Plants on the top tier of a noise barrier
The top level should match the overall appearance of the fence.
- Berlin poplar.
It has a number of advantages for use as a hedge. It has a conical crown shape, which gives this tree a decorative appearance. It is resistant to air pollution and tolerates frost. To avoid allergies, it is better to choose male plants when planting. Its important advantage is rapid growth. Can be replaced with linden, thuja or elm.
The foliage of trees and shrubs has sound-reflecting and sound-absorbing abilities. Therefore, if you approach the issue of choosing and planting plants carefully, the noise level will decrease from 5 to 20 dB.
