Every weekend in October, a new symphony of leaf blowers is performed, as homeowners engage in battle with Nature and its generous gift of falling leaves. However, nature’s gift also makes the leaf-free lawns a disaster in good lawn care.
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Check PriceLooking at the science, leaving fallen leaves creates more wildlife value than bird feeders, butterfly gardens, and pest control products. And we mean more than! Here are seven reasons your leaf blower might be the enemy of your yard.
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1. Leaves Are Winter Five-Star Hotels for Beneficial Insects
What’s hidden under the brown leaves from the maple and oak trees is a whole ecosystem getting ready for the winter! Moths, beetles, and the fly larvae that spent the summer controlling garden pests need this leaf litter to finish their life cycles. The National Wildlife Federation did a study that found over 500 species of moths and butterflies that use one oak tree as shelter while they are in the vulnerable caterpillar stage!
You're blowing away next summer's natural pest control army! The beneficial insects that come to get rid of aphids, thrips, and other garden issues arrive in spring. No need for spray bottles!
2. Bees need leaf cover to survive overwintering
Honeybees are quite unique. While they cluster together in large numbers, over 70% of the native bee species in North America prefer to nest underground and some use hollow stems. In fact, queen bumblebees only dig between 2 and 4 inches below the surface of the leaf litter to hibernate for the winter! For insulation, ground-nesting mining bees and sweat bees use loose organic matter.
Research from Cornell University indicates that the simple action of raking leaves can expose dormant bees to temperature changes that can be fatal. Using leaf blowers can also create vibrations that will collapse the fragile tunnels of bees, cause queen bees to freeze, and ultimately remove an entire generation of bees before they’re able to pollinate your spring garden.
3. Birds Pizza Fall and Winter Food and Shelter
Unlike other shelters, leaf litter serves as a 24/7 all-you-can-eat buffet for birds! Sparrows, towhees, and thrushes search through the leaves for seeds, insects, and larvae. The Audubon Society reports 47 species of birds that depend on leaf litter to survive the winter.
Leaves that decompose naturally attract earthworms and soil insects as they provide a food source. This supports a whole ecosystem which even provides food for birds in the toughest months. By removing the leaves, you remove the food web that supports the backyard birds.
4. Leaf Blowers Create Noise Pollution That Disrupts Wildlife
Commercial leaf blowers produce noise at 65 to 75 decibels; this is equal to the sound of traffic on a highway. This type of noise pollution makes it difficult for birds to communicate, disrupts their mating calls, and covers the predator alerts that protect wildlife.
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Bird publication of a study found that birds in chronic noise, heard at least once a week, lose 40% of their ability to reproduce because of the level of stress that noise provides. Birds that hear the weekly noise of leaf blowers may experience stress responses that deplete the energy they need for winter survival and spring breeding.
5. Fertilizer Made From Leaves Helps To Decrease Chemical Runoff
The best recycling system is built by nature. As leaves decompose, they release nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium— nutrients found in costly fertilizers. One inch of decomposed leaves equals one professional fertilization treatment in benefits to the soil.
When leaves are blown off, and replaced with fake fertilizers, the leaves generate nutrient runoff that pollutes our water. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) claims lawn chemicals are one of the top contributors to water pollution. Leaves improve soil health naturally and eliminate the need for applying these chemicals.
6. Fireflies need two years in the leaf litter to complete their life cycle
That amazing summer light show actually begins 1-2 years before the adult fireflies start glowing. The larvae spend this time living in leaf litter while hunting pest insects and maturing into the adults that create backyard magic.
Firefly babys nurseries are harmed by the process of removing leaves during the fall. \*\*Tufts University\*\* scientists claim that over the past ten years, the average decline in fireflies due to the suburban leaf removal practices is about fifty percent.
7. Leaf Blowers Send Dangerous Particles Into the Air
Leaves aren't the only things that leaf blowers blow; pesticides, pet waste, and dust are also blown into the air at 200 mph! The small particles can trigger asthma attacks, spread disease, and contaminate nearby food gardens.
The American Lung Association states that the emissions from leaf blowers can cause breathing problems in people and animals. Dust clouds from leaf blowers can harm the respiratory systems of sensitive animals.
Working With Nature for Better Alternatives
Instead of completely blowing leaves away, try these wildlife friendly approaches:
Run a mulching mower over thin layers of leaves to chop them into smaller pieces. This will help leaves breakdown faster and still keep some habitat for wildlife.
Leaf Corralling: Rake leaves from high-traffic areas and pile them under shrubs and in garden beds where they will provide natural mulch and shelter for wildlife.
The 80/20 Rule: Only remove 20% of the leaves on the property from pathways and recreational areas, and keep 80% in wildlife zones.
Compost Creation: Bagging and disposing of leaves is a missed opportunity for valuable nutrient recycling. Leaves provide a winter habitat for composting critters. Build a compost pile from leaves and let nature do her thing.
The best yards in the fall are not the ones that used a leaf blower to clear all the leaves. Instead, the best fall yards have leaves that are left or raked into piles to support wildlife. These yards also reduce maintenance, support chemical free systems, and create ecosystems that get better each year.
Put down your leaf blower and pick up a rake! Your local wildlife, your neighbors, and your wildlife will all thank you for the new peace from leaf blowing. More time, less work, and less noise = happier neighbors. Consider this `quiet revolution`, and join the growing community of fall homeowners who are revolutionizing peace and quiet from leaf blowing.
