#GAS LEAF BLOWER HOW TO#

Use this tip sheet to talk with contractors about the harmful effects of gas equipment.By signalling that you care about the air quality in your neighborhood, you are helping your neighbors and creating healthier jobs for our local workers. Gas blowers are most dangerous for the workers who operate them. Help create demand for green healthy jobs. Blow with caution – If you must use a blower, make sure there are no bystanders within 50 feet and do not use on dusty surfaces.

#GAS LEAF BLOWER HOW TO#

Find resources on the advantages of electric tools and how to make the switch.Battery/electric alternatives to gas powered tools are readily available and more reliable than gas tools.Try a lawn sweeper – these amazing tools clean up leaves and lawn clippings quickly, easily and quietly They are not expensive to purchase and require no gasoline.They are more efficient tools than many people think. Use a broom or rake instead of a gas blower to eliminate massive pollution, dust and noise.Gas blowers are often overkill for the work that is required, and good alternatives exist for light cleaning and even for heavy leaf clearing. Tools that don’t create toxic fumes, dust and noise are gentler on the environment. Reduce the size of your lawn or replace it altogether with plants that take less water and maintenance and which provide habitat for insects and birds. Reduce or replace your lawn – lawns take lots of water and labor to maintain and account for huge quantities of fertilizer and gasoline use.Help pollinators – plant native plants with staggered blooming times and do not use pesticides.Plant care – avoid the use of leaf blowers around plantings as they erode and compact the soil, and damage habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.Clippings are a natural fertilizer, beneficial for the lawn and will decompose and disappear quickly. Grasscycling – leave grass clippings on the lawn or use a mulching mower.“ Leave the leaves” – leave leaves and other plant matter under trees and shrubs to help build mulch, healthy soil and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.There is really no need to keep things looking “un-naturally” clean. So embrace a less manicured look and let nature do its thing! The more flexible we are about a few leaves here and there, the less time-consuming our yards are to maintain, and the healthier the soil and garden will be. And h ere is a great website on healthy yards. Here is a useful list of sustainable landscape principles. Yards designed according to these principles are easy to care for, look lovely, and are healthier for the planet. The best way to achieve this while promoting the health of ecosystems and people is through the principles of ecological/sustainable landscape design and maintenance. It is entirely possible to maintain a healthy, beautiful yard without the noise and toxic emissions from gas leaf blowers and other gas-powered equipment. Consumer Reports Recommends Battery Powered Tools

Gas leaf blower