The forecast is, finally, fine. You’ve hung the hammock, slathered the suncream, picked out a page turner to read. The stage is set for a perfect, peaceful afternoon in the garden. But wait – what’s that setting birds scattering and your eardrums screaming? The noisy neighbours are out again. And they are not holding back.
More than 305,000 noise complaints were recorded across England and Wales between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025, around 850 complaints per day. The most problem appears to have been properties rented out as short term lets like Airbnbs. But who’s making the noise is rarely the issue. The bigger question is: how can you block it out?
You could take a Trumpian approach and build a very big wall, of course. But other, more aesthetically appealing options might be worth considering first. For example, planting.
“A layered approach that combines planting with subtle infrastructure is most effective in reducing and masking unwanted noise from over the fence,” says Ruth Darrah, founder of the Norfolk School of Gardening.
Step one? “Dense, small-leafed evergreens such as yew hedging with Portuguese laurel, privet and eleagnus form the backbone, their tight foliage helping to absorb and deflect sound throughout the year while creating a clean, structured boundary,” says Ruth. “A solid fence or acoustic barrier behind this adds mass for further noise reduction, while the planting softens its appearance.”
GH gardening expert Dan Cooper agrees. "You've hit on one of my specialist subjects, as I live in a house that has 8 different properties adjoining it, and I'm in the middle of a town," he says. "The best plants for blocking out the sound of traffic or noisy neighbours are evergreen trees and shrubs that are clothed with foliage from top to bottom. For the best effect, they should be planted as close as possible to the noise source, rather than to the house.
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"What you want is maximum leaf surface area. It's the same principle as having lots of soft furnishings in your house to reduce echoey sounds. So trees and shrubs that have small leaves or needles are most effective, especially where you don't have space to plant a thick sound barrier. Ironically, leyland cypress (aka leylandii) is especially effective, but since many homeowners won't want to go down that route, I recommend narrow-leaved bay (Laurus nobilis 'Angustifolia') and Phillyrea latifolia (green olive), which are medium-sized trees that can be pruned or trimmed to keep them in bounds.
"Other options are olive (Olea europaea), holly (Ilex aquifolium) and holm oak (Quercus ilex). Be mindful that although evergreen, these trees will drop their old leaves in summer, which can be a nuisance in some areas of your garden. You can also plant larger-leaved evergreens such as rhododendron and photonia, but these won't be as effective as their overall leaf area is smaller - for quick results, you can plant them more thickly than you might otherwise.
"Where planting trees and shrubs isn't viable, an evergreen climber trained up surrounding walls and fences will also act as a sound sponge. Any kind of ivy will work, but for flowers and scent, go for star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides."
Ruth Darrah also recommends using 'noisy' plants to mask unwanted sounds: "Their movement in the breeze helping to blur intrusive sounds,” she explains. Try rustling bamboo or ornamental grasses.
Finally - consider a water feature. “The addition of a more active running water feature—such as a bubbling urn, cascade, or small waterfall—provides a consistent, fuller-spectrum background noise that is very effective at distracting from other sounds,” Ruth says. “Together, these elements create depth, combining absorption, deflection, and natural sound masking to produce a calmer, more private garden atmosphere.”
