Leaf blowers belong in the shed

Autumn is here: leaves fall softly, covering streets and pavements, lawns and flowerbeds in parks and gardens.

This prompts those who believe that public spaces and private front gardens must be meticulously cleared of their leafy burden to spring into action. But must they really? «Only when it comes to ensuring that no one is put at risk on public pathways», says Jenifer Calvi of the Deutsche Wildtier Stiftung (German Wildlife Foundation). Wet layers of leaves are a slippery affair; cities and municipalities have a duty to ensure that their residents can move safely on public paths.

Until the late 1990s, this was managed perfectly well with the trusty broom, rake, or garden fork. Since then, the leaf blower seems to have become the gardener's favourite tool when it comes to clearing autumn leaves. Also popular is the leaf vacuum, which shreds the leaves internally as it collects them. «Both options are indefensible from an environmental and species protection perspective», says Jenifer Calvi. Leaf blowers blast air at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour — and incidentally, that already qualifies as hurricane force — propelling not just twigs and leaves off lawns and pathways. Along with the foliage, spiders, insects, and even small mammals such as juvenile hedgehogs or mice are launched through the air at 70 metres per second. The noise level of over 100 decibels — equivalent to the din of a pneumatic drill — is not only an assault on human ears but a serious burden for wildlife. And in leaf vacuums, any animals that get sucked in are shredded along with the plant material: «In this way, many species — including rare insects — are shredded year after year.«

Furthermore, the leaf carpets on meadows and piles of leaves in gardens that were once commonplace are disappearing, taking with them valuable habitat for wildlife now searching for their hibernation spots or vital food sources. To allow hedgehogs, shrews, common toads, butterflies, ladybirds, grass snakes, and newts to find a home and food in winter, the Deutsche Wildtier Stiftung is therefore calling for people to forgo these devices. Calvi: «Leaves are part of the nutrient cycle and promote biodiversity.«

Five reasons to leave the leaf blower in the shed — or better yet, never buy one in the first place:

• 1. Anyone who uses a rake and broom to sweep up leaves will not kill spiders and insects or destroy the retreats of mice, hedgehogs, and insects.
• 2. Leaves on flower beds and under hedges and shrubs protect the soil from drying out.
• 3. Earthworms, mites, and bacteria turn leaves in the compost heap into compost soil that provides valuable nutrients for flowering plants and home-grown vegetables the following year.
• 4. There is less CO2 emission and less fine particulate matter pollution.
• 5. Anyone who skips the leaf blower can breathe fresh autumn air and listen to the colourful autumn leaves falling quietly and gently to the ground.