Leaf blowers - Pros and cons (landscaping, grass, trees, mower)

[Hobo7396]

Leaf blowers

I personally hate these noisy nuisances and the men who use them. Why do they use these? Its faster and quieter to use a broom in my opinion. People tend to use these to blow their yard debris into the street and into the storm drains which is not what they are supposed to do. These are as loud as a jet engine and burn nasty fossil fuels. These back pack type blowers have to be over $100 but a broom costs less than $20.

Do they give insecure or small men a sense of power? "I am loud! Notice me!" One of my neighbors who is grumpier than me blows the dirt from the street on his side of the street to mine. What gives him the right? He seems to take pride in his yard. Maybe he wants to make mine look bad? I sweep my side and put the debris in the trash but he just blows his across the street making more for me to clean up.

They also wake people up and create a sense of noise on an otherwise beautiful day. I think they should be banned.

[Pitt Chick]

LOL!
Not a sense of power, but an absolute necessity in my area.

I dare you to come remove all the leaves from my yard with a broom. No one uses brooms...

[LoriNJ]

Originally Posted by Hobo7396

Leaf blowers

I personally hate these noisy nuisances and the men who use them. Why do they use these? Its faster and quieter to use a broom in my opinion. People tend to use these to blow their yard debris into the street and into the storm drains which is not what they are supposed to do. These are as loud as a jet engine and burn nasty fossil fuels. These back pack type blowers have to be over $100 but a broom costs less than $20.

Do they give insecure or small men a sense of power? "I am loud! Notice me!" One of my neighbors who is grumpier than me blows the dirt from the street on his side of the street to mine. What gives him the right? He seems to take pride in his yard. Maybe he wants to make mine look bad? I sweep my side and put the debris in the trash but he just blows his across the street making more for me to clean up.

They also wake people up and create a sense of noise on an otherwise beautiful day. I think they should be banned.

You have put into words everything I hate about those machines. Late last fall, I was outside working in my garden on a perfectly beautiful, sunny, QUIET day. It was bliss. Then my neighbor across the street took out his leaf blower and literally blew leaves around for over 3 HOURS. What possible reason could he have for that, other than attempting to blow every speck of dirt somewhere else? I wanted to do violence! Instead, I eventually went into my house and ranted at my poor husband about "the (fill in the expletive of your choice; I called him everything) across the street". Argh!

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by LoriNJ

You have put into words everything I hate about those machines. Late last fall, I was outside working in my garden on a perfectly beautiful, sunny, QUIET day. It was bliss. Then my neighbor across the street took out his leaf blower and literally blew leaves around for over 3 HOURS. What possible reason could he have for that, other than attempting to blow every speck of dirt somewhere else? I wanted to do violence! Instead, I eventually went into my house and ranted at my poor husband about "the (fill in the expletive of your choice; I called him everything) across the street". Argh!

It is a matter of teaming up the right equipment to do the job. No you don't use a leaf blower to get every last leaf. You use your lawnmower to help mulch, or blow, or pick up the leaves first. Then you use the leaf blower to get the leaves out of the places the lawnmower could not go - like around shrubbery or close to your house.


They are a very useful tool and I have used them for everything from blowing off a dusting of snow, to cleaning out my garage, to cleaning out my truck, to cleaning the dust out my computers, to cleaning out my eves. Of course there are several types of blowers and choosing the right one for the job is important. I actually have one electric, one hand held gas and one backpack gas blower. I like the electric to blow out my truck and garage because of no fumes. My gas hand held I probably use the most. The back pack I only use if I have most of my five acres to clear around the trees - but I find it a pain.


I have one neighbor that uses their blowers to get every last leaf and it is annoying. They even have a landscaping business! I think that they use the blowers because it takes longer than using the riding tractors and they get paid by the hour!

[Charles22]

Having your own leaf blower is great when you don't want to have to listen to the neighbor's damn leaf blower, anymore.

[Hobo7396]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

LOL!
Not a sense of power, but an absolute necessity in my area.

I dare you to come remove all the leaves from my yard with a broom. No one uses brooms...

People I live use them to not blow leaves but to blow grass clippings and dirt around.

I use a broom for that and I am not no one.

I use a rake for the leaves. It's a good work-out and I have tried blowers and it actually seems to take longer with the blower.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by Hobo7396

People I live use them to not blow leaves but to blow grass clippings and dirt around.

I use a broom for that and I am not no one.

LOL! Way to clarify.... how is anyone supposed to know that a leaf blower thread is about clipping and dirt? That could have been mentioned up front.

You mentioned using a broom instead of a LEAF blower.
And I stand by what I said, given the info at the time I posted... NO ONE - you included - would use a broom for leaves.

[reneeh63]

Men will rarely do things manually if there's a power tool available....maybe with one exception... For some reason women are pretty much the opposite.

[Hemlock140]

Broom? What's that? My leaf blower is electric, but I also have a power washer, tiller, generator, chipper/shredder, and riding mower, all noisy, but fun and functional. One of the nice things about living where lots are large and homes far apart is being able to do what you want without complaints from neighbors.

[chiluvr1228]

[quote=Pitt Chick;43744311]LOL!
Not a sense of power, but an absolute necessity in my area.

I dare you to come remove all the leaves from my yard with a broom. No one uses brooms...[/quote]


There used to be a really cool invention called A RAKE. You raked up the leaves and either put them in a pile and burned them (back in the old days) or you put them in a large trash bag and placed the bags by the curb.


The leaf blower is essentially for lazy people.