In the past decade, as more and more municipalities have banned gas powered leaf blowers and have begun incentive programs to encourage the landscaping industry to adapt to more ecological land management practices, many institutions have collected data around the impacts of leaf blowers, lawn monocultures, and the benefits of switching to ecological landscapes.

Noise Pollution Data

• Walker, E., & Banks, J. (2017). Gas-powered leaf blower sound and impact on children.

• Maryland PIRG Foundation. (n.d.). Lawn care goes electric.

Emissions Data

• Edmunds. (n.d.). Emissions test: Car vs. truck vs. leaf blower.

Environmental Impact

• Audubon. Why cities are taking action to limit loud and polluting leaf blowers

Health Impact

• Respiratory Health Association. Gas-powered leaf blowers leave lungs vulnerable.

Leave the Leaves

• A recent study by University of Maryland researcher Max Ferlauto found that in places where people historically have left their fallen leaves to decompose, without removing them, the soil holds up to 32% more carbon on average. University of Maryland College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. (n.d.). Stop raking leaves: The carbon sink your yard needs help.
• Architectural Digest. Raking leaves: A how-to guide
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Raking leaves? Drop the rake and stop what you’re doing.
• The Journal of Environmental Management proved that 68 percent of historic rainfall could be infiltrated by urban forest patch soils (with keeping organic matter left in place) to perform ecohydrological functions that can reduce urban stormwater flows.

General Data

• The New York Times. Opinion: Leaf blowers and California’s emissions
• Quiet Clean PDX. (2019). Gas-powered leaf blower emissions factsheet.
• The New York Times. Opinion: Letters on leaf blowers
• Monmouth University Library Guide. Leaf blowers and climate change
• YouTube. Video: Leaf blowers and their impact
• Public Information about Leaf Blower Impacts

Leaf Blower Bans

• Fast Company. Why leaf blowers are being banned across the country
• Encyc.org. Leaf blower bans around the Country