Question
I just finished reading your article about your suggestion for a erecting a noise barrier to highway noise.  I have a similar, but different problem.  We have neighbors who have a small dog that barks alot, at anything.  In the evenings, the parents and children come out to "play". The children scream and the dog barks constantly.  It is very nerve racking. My husband works the grave yard shift and I get home about 6:00 PM for peace and quiet (which we never get).  We have even stopped going out in the back yard during the lovely cool evenings because of these insensitive neighbors.  We have asked several times to quiet their dog and children.  Somehow, they just don't get it.  Please tell me how I can alleviate the noise and create a pleasing barrier.  We love our home and don't want to move.

Answer
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Again, my sympathies - But I ran across this item this morning - do you live in Mt. Dora, Florida by chance?

They just passed a city ordinance that BANS dog-barking for more than 5-minutes:  

http://dailycommercial.com/print.asp?SectionID=31&ArticleID=21260

Best of luck ~Marc

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My sympathies & apologies - I don't have a landscape solution to insensitivity.  This is a "people" problem, and not a landscape one.  I, too, have lain awake in my bed cursing the neighbor whose dog or car alarm goes unheeded.

Might I suggest the "broken record" technique: EVERY time the dog barks, or the kids get too loud, ring their doorbell and ask them to quite down...firm resolve, every time.  You will become the annoying one because some folks just don't "get it" the first 100 times.

Also, discuss this problem with the local community government. You have a RIGHT to peace and quite on your property.  I spoke to the local police about this with a noisy neighbor of my own, and thankfully our community has an ordinance to curb such problems.  Unfortunately, it required MY participation in resolving this problem - I had to confront the neighbor and consistantly be willing to call out the police, which made me the "bad guy" with the neighbor...even though it was his poor behaviour that was the cause (I didn't want to hear his late-night beer-drinking parties - imagine that!).

It stinks, and I cannot suggest a plant that will fix it!  

~M