Leaf Blower History

For more than 30 years individuals and landscape professionals have been using gas-powered leaf blowers to clear debris from their lawns and gardens. But the increased speed and efficiency has come with a price. Noise pollution and other environmental concerns have driven many communities to ban their use entirely or restrict use within a certain distance from a residence.

Origins

Japanese gardeners in the 19th century developed the first leaf blowers. These early models operated by hand-pumping bellows to create enough air to clear light debris from garden plots. In the 1970s the Japanese developed the first powered leaf blower by attaching a motor and hose to the old hand-operated machines. The technology behind the modern leaf blower was adapted from mist blowers used to spray chemicals on plants and crops. The powerful air stream could easily clear large amounts of leaves, twigs and grass clippings.

Poplarity

Leaf blowers first appeared in the United States in the 1970s. They quickly became popular with lawn care companies and homeowners. According to Citizens for a Quieter Sacramento, an organization dedicated to banning leaf blowers in their city, 75,000 backpack-style leaf blowers were sold in 1986. The number of sales rose to 464,000 in 1987 and 800,000 in 1989.

Backlash

Almost immediately after leaf blowers became available in the United States, communities began to ban them because they were too noisy. The California cities of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Belvedere were among the first areas to create leaf blower restrictions. In 1997 Los Angles banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers within 500 feet of a residence. The following year State Senator Richard Polanco introduced legislation that would have prevented cities in California from banning leaf blowers, but the State Supreme Court upheld the ban.

Concerns

Although noise is the primary reason most communities have enacted leaf blower bans, some have suggested leaf blowers are actually harmful to vegetation. Steve Zien, owner of an organic lawn care company called Living Resources, says the powerful air stream of a leaf blower can strip the land of topsoil, damage otherwise healthy plants by tearing leaves off branches and spread disease, insect eggs and weed seeds.

Fun Fact

In 2007 the first-ever game of leaf blower hockey was played in Toronto when the Windbreakers took on the Fallen Leafs. Each team member strapped on a backpack-style leaf blower and pushed a ball over a rain-soaked outdoor "rink." The teams were made up of locals who worked for restaurants, advertising companies and landscapers.

References

• SoloUSA: Leaf Blowers
• Citizens for a Quieter Sacramento
• Treehugger.com: Leaf Blower Hockey