Silver Spring Residents Vent over Leaf Blowers Use

Leaf blowers are the mosquitoes of the autumn season. Driving local Silver Spring residents crazy and forcing many indoors when they would like to enjoy their own yards.

“I really do not like the high-pitched noise they make,” Lorraine Van Buren of Dale Drive said. “It must bother some folks more than others, but I hate it.”

Many residents are unaware that there are local regulations that cover not only the decibel levels permitted by leaf blowers, but also their hours of operation. The Montgomery County noise ordinance spells out that leaf blowers are prohibited before 7 a.m. on regular weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays. On any day, they cannot continue past 9 pm.

Nearby in the town of Chevy Chase, the citizens decided to limit the hours even further to have any yard power equipment operate only between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

In neighboring Takoma Park, the city council wrangled over a ban on leaf blowers several times before legislation was passed this year. It now bans city employees from using gas-powered leaf blowers, but does not limit others’ use of them.

In Silver Spring, some residents are entertaining the idea of banning the leaf blowers and other lawn equipment during the weekend when they would like to relax in their own gardens. Others would like the ban to cover weekday hours after 5 p.m. to ensure quiet evenings at home.

Aside from the noise, leaf blowers are a nuisance in many other ways. The gas-powered blowers two-stroke engines pollute the air. According to the California Air Resources Board, 30 minutes of leaf blower carbon monoxide emissions is equivalent to about 110 miles of automobile travel at 30 miles-per-hour average speed.

They also blow dust, mold, and other particulates into the air. Asthma and allergy sufferers are greatly impacted. Animal feces, heavy metals like lead, and pesticides are also blown about by these power tools and have been tied to serious illness in lawn work crews.

Are leaf blowers really necessary? Vicki King Taitano on Queen Annes Drive notes, “I hate the noise too. Maybe I have over sensitive ears. In my opinion, our yards are small enough that rakes are really sufficient.”

Tim Abrahams lives on Sheffield Street and operates Abrahams Lawn Service. He concedes that leaf blowers are very noisy and burn a lot of fuel.

“But they are a necessary part of the business if you want to stay competitive during leaf season in this area,” Abrahams explained. “I myself really don't like to use them and prefer raking, but customers would not want to pay for the extra man hours that takes. (Three guys with nice blowers can clean out a yard and gutters in half the time as using rakes.)”

Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener magazine and is a long-time DC area gardening enthusiast. Washington Gardener is all about gardening where you live. She can be reached at www.washingtongardener.com and welcomes your gardening questions.