Blog Archives

Instead of using gas-powered leaf blowers, use electric or a rake.

9/22/2021

The gentle falling of leaves that comes with the arrival autumn is accompanied by the loud droning of leaf blowers. The high-decible noise from these machines raises the question of whether they are necessary. While they are a helpful tool for piling the leaves in our tree-rich neighborhoods, they have downsides as well. According to an EPA study, the inefficient two-stroke motor of gas-powered leaf blowers emit particulates and pollutants including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate change. The practice of blowing leaves out of landscaping is detrimental to plant beds: the high-force winds produced by leaf blowers scour plants, compact the soil, and blow away nutrients with the topsoil. A study in the Environmental and Toxicology Studies Journal found that the low-frequency/high decibel sounds emitted by gas-powered leaf blowers travel long distances and through walls. These impacts are detrimental to health of both humans and wildlife.

Alternatives to gas-powered leaf blowers include using different tools or adopting a different approach to leaves. Use a rake on the lawn and a broom to clear the sidewalk or driveway. Electric blowers have no direct emissions and produce less noise. We can also question the value of applying a standard of “neatness” in the outdoors that can only be achieved by using these machines. In some areas of the yard, leaves don’t need to be removed at all: soil in plant beds is protected by leaf litter and gets nutrients as the leaves break down. Instead of blowing leaves away, consider gently raking the leaves from your lawn into your landscaping.

Another way to help pollinators: this fall install a flowering bee lawn.

9/10/2021

“Scientists at the University of Minnesota research flowering bee lawns as a concrete way that public land managers and homeowners can support bees. Many bee pollinator populations are in decline due to several factors, including a lack of bee-friendly flowers, exposure to pesticides, as well as diseases and parasites. Turfgrass lawns are ubiquitous in urban and suburban areas, covering more than 2% of the land area of the continental U.S., but don’t provide nectar or pollen for bees. Flowering bee lawns incorporate low-growing, perennial flowers into turfgrass lawns. The selected flowers are rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees and can withstand mowing and moderate foot traffic. This means flowering lawns can support bees while preserving the open sightlines and many of the recreational uses provided by traditional lawns…. Flowering lawns increase the diversity and abundance of flowers, helping support both honey bees and nativebees. So far, we have found 56 species of bees feeding on Dutch white clover alone. That represents roughly 15% of all known bee species in the entire state of Minnesota.”

In depth guide

Researchers at the University of Minnesota recommend overseeding flower seeds into the lawn in the late fall when the seeds are dormant, setting them up to germinate in the spring. In Pennsylvania, flowers such as clover, buckwheat, violets, and burdock will support the bees in our area. The US Forest Service recommends only cutting your lawn every two to three weeks to allow flowers such as clover to bloom and be visited by bees.

Instead of using gas-powered leaf blowers, use electric or a rake.

Another way to help pollinators: this fall install a flowering bee lawn.

Categories

Archives