Make Your Garden Feel Alive With The Power Of Soundscaping

Gardens can be a treat for the senses. In addition to beautiful plants that are a feast for the eyes and a delight to touch, you may have also incorporated fragrant plants into your garden. And, of course, your vegetable garden is likely full of tasty veggies. However, one sense that is too often forgotten about when creating gardens is sound. Fortunately, you can remedy that by creating your own vibrant soundscape space.

There are a variety of ways to add pleasant sounds to your garden. A water fountain or other water feature is a perfect way to add a soothing bubbling and babbling noise to your yard. Wind chimes can add a variety of sounds depending on their size and whether you opt for metallic or wooden chimes. You can also use bird feeders and plants that attract birds to encourage a pleasant chatter of bird songs into your yard. Don't forget to welcome the buzz of pollinators by planting colorful flowers that will bring bees into your yard, too. And of course, you can opt for plants that make interesting sounds themselves when touched or blown by the wind.

Water features, whether they're a pond with a waterfall or just a small bird bath with a fountain, are a great way to bring sounds into your garden and begin your garden soundscape. Not only is the sound of the water itself soothing, but it is also a great way to encourage your neighborhood birds to come and enjoy your yard and serenade you. Providing a good water source is one of the best ways to attract songbirds to your yard – along with feeders, of course. Add an extensive landscaping project or a small yard decoration that includes moving water.

Wind chimes are perfect not just for adding visual beauty to your garden but also for their melodic sounds. Be sure to test out your wind chimes before purchasing them so you can pick ones whose sounds you enjoy. You can even make your own wind chimes if you prefer, using items like beads, driftwood, and bells. Opt for louder wind chimes that can't be missed or go for a more subtle and understated sound depending on what type of soundscape you want to cultivate in your yard.  

While water and wind chimes can add stunning sounds to your garden, you can also create a garden soundscape that relies primarily (or even entirely) on plants alone. Trees like cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) and quaking aspens (Populus tremuloides) make gentle noises as the wind moves through their leaves, as do many ornamental grasses. Instead of immediately raking up leaves in autumn, allow them to dry on the ground so you can enjoy their crackles as you stroll your garden. Bonus: they will also decompose and improve your soil. 

You can also add balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) for their buds' unusual popping noises and the flowers' beauty. Love in a mist (Nigella damascena), false indigo (Baptisia), lotuses (Nelumbo nucifera), and other flowers that create rattling seed pods are also great additions. If you opt to grow rattlesnake beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), be sure to let some of them dry on the vine so you can enjoy the rattle of their pods as well. Don't forget to grow plants like strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum) so you can enjoy their unusual texture and the distinctive rustling noise they make when touched. Of course, flowers will also attract buzzing bees and other insects that create soothing sounds.