Leaf Blowers: Bad for your Lawn and your Lungs

A peaceful, quiet sunny day in my backyard was shattered as a truckload of lawn guys fired up their gas guzzling equipment next door. The deafening noise of 2 mowers and 3 blowers forced me to evacuate my sunny deck and head inside to shut all the windows before the clouds of dust and exhaust hit the house.

The gas driven leaf blower is truly a diabloical machine. Leaf blowers are not regulated by any state or federal agency, thanks to lobbying by their manufacturers. They spew far more pollutants into the air than any vehicle on the road. In one hour of operation, leaf blowers put 498 times more hydrocarbons (greenhouse gases), 49 times more particulate mater and 26 times more carbon monoxide than the average large car.

Our children, who breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults, are especially at risk for inhaling the many pollutants that ate thrown into the air by this equiment. Pets, the elderly and anyone with allergies are directly impacted by our lawn blowing habits that kick up dirt and dust and accomplish nothing.

Leaf blowers operate at extremely high velocities, blowing winds up to 180 miles per hour, faster than a category 5 hurricane. This stirs up mold, allergens, and dust particles along with bird and rodent feces. In the dry and hot summer, plants are already stressed to begin with, they do not appreciate this blast of air. This process weakens the soil and damages vital soil dwelling organisms that are key to healthy lawn.

In spring and summer, when there are no leaves, it would be smart to put a stop to these machines and break out a rake or broom instead. Simply tell your lawn guys that your lawn doesn't need a blow. Your lawn and your lungs will thank you.