Search for info on berms, not mounds. Tons out there.

Here is a link that might be useful: U of M Extension on Berm Building

I think you'll find that you will disappointed in the noise abatement that you will gain from doing this.

It's not that you shouldn't build a berm--but read about them and then decide if one fits into the plan as an important ? visual design element--when done well and planted well, they can really look good. When not, look dumb--like a burial mound or something-- and have added maintenance issues, plus they dry out easily (good aspect is that drainage is good). It takes more space than you might think to create one, in order to have the gradual grade that blends in nicely.

You want to check out a book by Robert Gilmore called Beauty All Around You. It is all about how to create large private low-maintenance gardens even on small lots and small butdgets. He uses berms, nicely designed and shaped for natural effect, along with evergreen plantings to create audio and visual privacy. I've toured his own 1 acre property in a mature subdevelopment and when you are on his property you can't see or hear the street or neighboring houses. He also has written books about woodland gardens.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to

I had a customer who was going to move because he couldn't tolerate the noise from the heavily traveled street behind his beautiful landscaped backyard. I did some research and found that soil was one of the best for absorbing sound. We created some very natural raised areas. If I remember correctly it was a 3 to 1 ratio meaning that the grade was raised 12 inches in 3 feet. We had the room so the slope could be gradual. Keep in mind as mentioned before that the design is crutual in regards to not creating a site that looks like a buried elephant. The sound of the car tires on the pavement is the bulk of the noise so the soil needs to be high enough to buffer that and not necessarily the whole car. You might find that stratigic raised planting might do the trick. It also might be worth it to invest in larger plants because soil and the labor to grade it can be costly.