By Kerry Morgan
It’s November, and the earthy smell of fall surrounds us as leaves and other plant materials slowly decompose in our lawns and gardens.
Helpful bacteria in the soil and surrounding environment are at work, releasing volatile organic compounds and molecules that contribute to this signature smell.
Just as distinctive is a far-too-common sound of fall—the din of gas-powered leaf blowers.
Although the City of St. Paul’s noise ordinance prohibits their use between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., their high-decibel and specific low-frequency noise is a nuisance and health hazard at any time of day or night. The sound can travel long distances and through building walls, penetrating even protective ear coverings.
Ongoing concerns about public health, the environment
For almost as long as gas-powered leaf blowers have been marketed in the U.S., they have raised public health concerns.
As early as 1975 the City of Carmel, California, prohibited their use. Today, more than 150 municipalities across the country have banned them seasonally or entirely, from Washington, D.C., to Portland, Oregon.
California has prohibited the sale of all new gas-powered lawn equipment, and other states are considering it. (In Minnesota, similar House and Senate bills were introduced in 2023 but neither made it out of committee.)
Of all fossil fuel-powered lawn equipment, the lightweight two-stroke engines that power handheld equipment like leaf blowers are the worst polluters, especially of fine particulates. Even the more efficient four-stroke models lack the advanced emissions controls found in cars.
In an often-cited example from the California Air Resources Board, operating a commercial leaf blower for one hour emits the same amount of smog-forming pollution as driving a passenger car 1,100 miles.
And the risks are far greater for landscape workers who use the blowers for hours and days on end, inhaling exhaust fumes and particulate matter that can lead to heart and lung irritation.
In addition, there is mounting evidence that the low-frequency sound waves can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, stress and hearing impairment.
A healthier, cleaner, quieter…and more expensive option
Switching to electric lawn equipment provides health benefits to leaf blower operators and residents by reducing noise and air pollution. And the higher frequency noise from electric leaf blowers has less severe health impacts than gas blowers.
The growing zero-emissions landscaping equipment industry promotes electric models as cheaper to operate over time, needing less maintenance and no fuel, and providing the productivity and run time equivalent to gas backpack blowers. However, the upfront costs are still higher than gas models.
For landscape professionals committed to using electric equipment, “power output/performance, maintenance and cost” are ongoing concerns, according to Ulrich Faircloth, who runs Grounded Earth Property Services in Minneapolis.
Although he sees the power gap between gas and electric growing smaller, “costs need to come down before more folks get onboard,” due to the infrastructure needed to recharge and replace multiple batteries.
“Make America rake again”
In truth, all leaf blowers are ecologically harmful when used on non-paved surfaces, like planted garden beds and lawns. Hurricane-force air strips the soil of many insects and microorganisms that keep soil fertile.
Perhaps we need to reconsider whether outdoor spaces need to be clean and tidy.
Instead of blowing an entire lawn completely free of leaves, why not rake at least some of them onto your garden beds and under trees? Fallen leaves and twigs provide habitat for many beneficial insects, frogs, turtles and birds, and are a natural mulch for newly emerging spring plants before they decompose and enrich the soil.
Let the leaves do their thing by carpeting the ground, acting as a sponge to absorb rainwater, insulating roots and cushioning the soil. Minimize your fall cleanup— just leave the leaves!
Resources to help you switch to electric
American Green Zone Alliance; https://agza.net/
Quiet Clean Alliance; https://quietcleanalliance.org/
Quiet Communities; https://www.quietcommunities.org/quiet-landcare
Xerces Society; https://xerces.org/leave-the-leaves
Associated Press, “U.S. Bans on Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers Grow, as Does Blowback From Landscaping Industry,” June 20, 2024
Erica Walker and Jamie L. Banks, “Characteristics of Lawn and Garden Equipment Sound: A Community Pilot Study,” Journal of Environmental and Toxicology Studies 1(1), Nov. 3, 2017
Kerry Morgan is co-chair of the St. Anthony Park Community Council’s Environment Committee.