Should Leaf Blowers Be Banned?

One of the most infamous tools in the avid gardener’s toolkit is the leaf blower.

This mighty, noisy, and dirty piece of equipment was the genius solution to the labour-intensive rake and broom, but could we be due to make a move back to them?

Is the leaf blower really as bad as people make it out to be? Well, you’re about to find out.

What is a Leaf Blower?

A leaf blower is a gardening tool that uses an electric or gas motor to move debris, such as dust, dirt, grass cuttings, and leaves, away from where you don’t want it to be.

Rather than spending a long time spreading dust around your yard with a broom, you can move it with speed and accuracy with one blast of this handy tool. Within just a few years of its invention, hundreds of thousands of models were flying off hardware store shelves.

Why Do People Hate Leaf Blowers?

People hate leaf blowers for a number of reasons, which we’ll cover in a small amount of detail below. However, to put it into just one statement: because they’re considered noisy, dirty, and downright annoying.

The Noise

Some people are so fed up with the noise made by leaf blowers that they have even created petitions for them to be banned. In a Change.org petition destined for the Departments of Agriculture in Australia, 812 people signed in solidarity with someone who was tired of being exposed to noise (and air) pollution created by leaf blowers.

According to the petition starter, Karina Bright, residents in densely populated areas were frequently being woken up to the sound of leaf blowers and the smell of petrol exhausts to start their day. While the operators were using earmuffs and masks, everyone else around them was left to listen to their horrendous noise.

Leaf blowers are also banned in several towns and cities throughout the United States due to how much they disturb the peace.

However, where there’s a problem, there’s a solution. Any keen gardener with no time to rake up every individual leaf may feel better when they learn manufacturers have been working hard on the noise problem.

Both gas and electric leaf blowers are up to about 75% quieter than their older counterparts, with some producing as little as 65dBA. That’s about as loud as a normal conversation, a business office, or slightly louder than a household refrigerator.

The Air Pollution

It’s true that leaf blowers are not as clean as a broom or rake, but that doesn’t mean they are as dirty as they used to be when they first hit the market. Technology has come a long way. Modern leaf blowers have to meet exhaust emission requirements, so there’s simply no room for the ‘dirty’ garden implements of days gone by.

What’s more, many people are swapping heavy, maintenance-intensive gas leaf blowers for electric and battery-powered models. While not as powerful, they are cleaner, easier to maintain, and suitable for residential property owners and business owners who don’t want to spend hours on the end of a broom each day.

How to Buy the Best Leaf Blower

With your neighbours potentially getting ready to storm your yard with their pitchforks, it’s essential to do your research before purchasing a new leaf blower.  

Considering people are petitioning to have them banned, it’s worth making sure the model you buy mitigates some of the most common problems people have with them. Alternatively, you can always hire lawn care experts who can manage all your lawn care tasks for you.

Choose Battery or Electric

Even though petrol-powered leaf blowers can be far more powerful than many battery and electric models, there are plenty of reasons why battery and electric models may be a better choice. You can typically enjoy up to around half an hour of battery life with a battery-powered blower or endless electricity if you purchase an electric corded model.

Battery and electric blowers also tend to be cleaner, quieter, and easier to maintain, solving many problems typically associated with the gruntier gas models.

Consider Noise Levels

Modern-day blower manufacturers are going above and beyond to ensure their new leaf blowers are at an acceptable noise level. While you will never come across a quiet leaf blower, you will find models that are much quieter than others. Don’t forget to purchase ear and eye protection, especially ear protection for models over 85dBA.

Look At Accessories

Even though the leaf blower is the essential part of the package, there’s no harm in considering which accessories come with it. Typically, you can purchase leaf blowers with narrow nozzles that boost blowing power and hooked tubes that allow you to clean gutters. You might even be able to buy blowers with hoses that will enable you to blow your debris directly into a bin.

Leave Lawn Care to the Experts

Whether you want to avoid a battle with your neighbours, or you’d rather not worry about lawn care at all, hire lawn mowing companies to help. They can take care of annoying autumn leaves, lawn mowing, gardening, tree trimming, and more. All you need to focus on is enjoying the fruits of their labour.