Dear neighbors, 8 am is not an acceptable time for leaf blowing, hedge trimming, and other assorted usages of inescapably loud power tools. 

We can save the discussion for whether or not your leaves need blowing for another time (spoiler alert: they don’t), as the premature hour of the cacophonous horror you regularly inflict on our shared aural space is a burden so great that all other issues fall to the wayside. 

Have some courtesy and wait until at least 10 am to waste energy by loudly moving leaves from one spot to another.

P.S. Don’t pretend you need to fit in the chore before work. We both know you have a landscaping team in once weekly.


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11 replies on “Leaf Blowers Blow”

  1. Don’t worry the legislature is on it:

    https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1868.pdf?q=20231211143833

    This bill would ban all gas powered lawn equipment less than 25hp after 2026. The penalty for violation would be up to a year in jail and a $10K fine. Fwiw saying you don’t need to clean up leaves is incorrect. Storm drains will get clogged and when we have an atmospheric river like we did last week you will get localized flooding.

  2. @5 – he might be using an electric leaf blower.

    And think of all the jobs we create paying one guy to blow your leaves to the neighbor’s yard, and another to blow them back. Leaf blowers are basically awesome for the economy!

  3. I hate the sound of leaf blowers and I think most are unnecessary but meatheads like to have toys. The concern of safety regarding storm drains and “localized flooding” is weak stuff. Metal leaf rakes work great

  4. To paraphrase one of my role models, Addision Dewitt, this post is maudlin and full of self-pity. It’s magnificent.

    Speaking of atmospheric rivers, I think it’s simply wonderful that all of the money the county/city has invested in stormwater overflow management has prevented another tragedy like the one that befell Kate Fleming this day in 2007. Rest in peace, Ms Fleming.

  5. a tinge late

    or vastly

    early ia

    cannot

    Wait to hear

    one of those 25hp

    Motorized riding Hurricanes

    they’ll send

    sticks the size

    of your arm thu

    the bedroom window

    will they be

    running on

    Diesel? M-

    mmmm.

    & thnx

    Catalina!

  6. thanks!

    Dleigh.

    or

    maybe

    they’ll use

    Jet Engines to

    send the Leaves

    Two doors down:

    ‘I LOVE the Smell

    of Kerosene in the

    morning! it Smells like

    Everyone’s

    [finally]!

    Up.’

    it’s

    Saturday!

    and Corporate

    America wants YOU.

  7. @13

    Firstly, as I previously mentioned, most leaf blowers are unnecessary. Sure the parks department can use them and landscapers, etc.

    The average homeowner does not need one, they just want one.

    I don’t think using a rake would break the bank anyhow, or otherwise move the needle significantly whatsoever.

    And, this is just a mostly unfounded opinion, I think an aesthetic has arisen that has led people to expect some version of a perfect lawn/yard devoid of “imperfections”.

    It goes without saying that I am a bit of a slob

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