Sound abatement quality of trees and shrubs

[Dadatwins]

I have a regular tree customer that I have worked at for years that runs a catering/wedding/outdoor banquet facility on a lake. They are having problems with neighbors?/ competitors across the lake complaining about noise.
Lake is 26 acres, propery is over 100 acres with most of the facility located close to the lake. County office has stepped in and threatening to shut down the business if they don't address the problem. The appeal to the location is the natural wooded lake front setting, lots of large oaks,poplar,hickory and tall pines, so they don't want to build walls, I remember reading about sound abatement quality of trees and shrubs and have been looking for some printed studies that show how trees and shrubs can help with sound abatement without much luck. I need to put a proposal together for the customer that we can present to the county showing we are trying to resolve the issue using natural barriers. My short list list of trees and shrubs include some live oaks, hornbean, hollies, cyprus, cryptomeria, mostly dense leafy trees and shrubs. Plenty of room to plant, located in central VA. feel free to comment on my list if you see any red flags or suggest other options. If anyone know of any sound abatement studies or literature involving trees and shrubs that is available I would appreciate the help. Thanks.

 

[okietreedude1]

Im not sure of the growing zone, but what about Photinia? Evergreen shrub w/ red new foliage. They can get tall as well.

 

[treeseer]

Okie, redtip photinia get a bad leafspot problem over here. I like osmanthus; dense and fast-growing and fragrant flower in the summer.

Any thought to changing the angle of the speakers? How about installing them in the trees and pointing them down, to lessen the sound going across the lake?

You could sell them a good service by installing them.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I remember reading about sound abatement quality of trees and shrubs and have been looking for some printed studies that show how trees and shrubs can help with sound abatement without much luck.

I once attented a zoning committee hearing, and had to wait for a very contentious proposal to get its third hearing. Somebody wanted to put a concrete plant or something in the middle of a rural area. Many houses nearby, but the zoning DID allow for the concrete plant. The biggest concerns were dust and noise.

The residents wanted lots of trees around the thing, the developer wanted lots of trees around the thing, but...

A professional sound engineer testified, and took up most of the meeting. He went into great detail about sound barriers, what works and what doesn't.


Bottom line (which surprised me), trees don't do much to attenuate sound. You need a solid wall. <shrug> I used to think otherwise, but he spent a lot of time on it, citing many studies and showing measurements.

Nobody was happy, as the wall was going to cost the developer more than trees and the residents wanted the visual barrier of trees.

So, no, this guy wasn't just saying what the developer wanted him to say. He made everybody unhappy, which is a pretty good indication he was shooting straight.

 

[Treeman14]

Well, there ya go. Put up a big concrete wall and paint nice little trees all over it.

 

[Treeman14]

Maybe they could just turn the volume down.

 

[Dadatwins]

Okie, redtip photinia get a bad leafspot problem over here. I like osmanthus; dense and fast-growing and fragrant flower in the summer.

Any thought to changing the angle of the speakers? How about installing them in the trees and pointing them down, to lessen the sound going across the lake?

You could sell them a good service by installing them.

Red tip are not an option, I will check out the osmanthus, looks like a good pick also. Speaker angle might be part of the problem they are installed in some tall pines pointing down but the trees are so tall there is no foliage. My idea is to ground mount with plantings behind and around the sides to create a natural buffer/redirect.
Already turned down the volume, almost to the point of having sign language music and announcements. Painted concrete barriers or solid wood fence not much of an option either, beside trying to redirect sound, trying to keep the natural appeal to the property. Business has been open a few years with very little complaint, until they started expanding and competition started feeling a pinch. There is some political wrangling going on also which does not help. Purpose of planting is to try to make county and client happy and show county we are attempting to resolve situation. Sounds like fun doesn't it?

 

[smokechase II]

not a believer

Blue Ridge Mark:
We need myth busters now.

My experience in the woods and in wooded communities tells me the sound guy is not correctly informed.

Of course I have no scientific data.

While it could be shown to me that a wall can deflect virtually all the sound up and away I view a varied plant wall as basically the same as a random sound proofing.

What do I know?

 

[Nickrosis]

If I were in their shoes, I'd consider getting a temporary sound barrier to put up during concerts or events. Something that wouldn't block off the view but would help with it. When it's over, it could be taken down, rolled away, folded up, etc. and be out of sight completely.

 

[Insometry]

I dont know the size or what it looks like or anything - but you could have a camo tarp raised and attached to some poles (like a flag process). Put some trees/shrubs ect in front of it. The tarp will catch what the woody stuff doesn't (at least until they fully grow.) And if done right, it should be invisible. Alot cheaper than a wall - imaginative (people like that) - and you can raise and lower it with only the poles or tarp attachment points in place.

Think about it. I'm sure there are several drawbacks, but Im also sure it would be cheaper.

 

[Redbull]

Recommend a proffesional sound engineer. It's their job to put the right speaker in the right place, just like it's our job to put the right tree in the right place. An engineer should be able to recommend the right speaker and the right placement to avoid sound bouncing off buildings and such.
I would also recommend planting a row of dense foliage trees or shrubs.

 

[Insometry]

Having worked in a studio and with alot of live sound...I must agree with Redbull on this. Dont know why I didn't think of a sound engineer "tuning" your area.

Be a pretty penny (I.E. he tells you to get BOSE speakers) - but should work fairly well.