{"id":37,"date":"2017-02-22T12:22:47","date_gmt":"2017-02-22T12:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/quietprinceton.org\/?page_id=37"},"modified":"2023-05-25T15:45:56","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T15:45:56","slug":"landscaping","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/quietprinceton.org\/index.php\/landscaping\/","title":{"rendered":"Quiet Landscaping"},"content":{"rendered":"

“A good neighbor keeps the noise down.”<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u2013 Advertisement for Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 2006<\/p>\n

You can help to make your neighborhood quieter:
How to convert to \u201cQuiet Landscaping\u201d<\/h2>\n

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The scene above does not necessarily have to suffer the event pictured below.<\/p>\n

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Cartoon by Tom Toro, with thanks.<\/p>\n

In Quiet Princeton\u2019s leaf blower initiative, local landscapers have signed up to be available as \u201cQuiet Landscapers<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program is voluntary. We believe it is a win-win for all involved:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Homeowners, who are affected by the noise
\u2014 Neighbors, who are also affected by the noise
\u2014\u00a0Landscapers\u2019 workers, who are affected by day-long exposure to noise and pollution
\u2014 Landscape contractors, who may get additional customers who are looking for a \u201cQuiet Landscaper\u201d<\/p>\n

Many\u00a0interested parties benefit from this initiative:<\/p>\n

\u2014 The municipality: the initiative decreases clogging of drains and costly removal of leaf piles from the streets.
\u2014 Public health: the initiative decreases hearing damage and lung problems that landscapers\u2019 workers suffer from leaf blowers\u2019 noise and pollution.
\u2014 Environmentalists: the initiative decreases serious air pollution from leaf blower operation and from transporting leaves.
\u2014 Ecologists: the initiative decreases damage due to removal of topsoil by leaf blowers.
\u2014 Princeton residents: the initiative decreases distressing and stressful noise that leaf blowers create.<\/p>\n

How Quiet Landscaping works:<\/strong><\/p>\n

STEP 1: WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEAVES (whether or not you have a<\/span>\u00a0landscaper)<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Many good alternatives involve no use of a leaf blower at all<\/span>:<\/p>\n

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\u2014leaving grass clippings in place (this is the best thing to do; it returns nutrition to the soil)
\u2014using a mulching mower to mulch leaves into the lawns<\/p>\n

\u2013 using a Lawn Sweeper<\/strong> \u00a0— a simple device that picks up the leaves and twigs and conveniently collects them in a bag. This is easier, faster, and of course far quieter than a blower:<\/p>\n

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Lawn sweeper pulled behind a ride-on mower on large areas of grass<\/p><\/div>\n

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Push-type lawn sweeper for smaller lawns<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2014blowing leaves into flowerbeds using the side discharge of a mower
\u2014raking leaves into flowerbeds or into a corner of your yard
\u2014raking only in limited, selected places
\u2014raking of most areas previously cleared with leaf blowers (This option may cost more because raking can take more time.)
\u2014avoiding \u201cScorched earth\u201d removal of everything, as is often done with leaf blowers. This is very bad for the topsoil, birds, and garden life, and removes desirable mulch. It is not recommended and should be avoided.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

STEP 2: WITH YOUR CURRENT LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

When you hire a landscaping contractor, you are in control of how the work is performed. If you already have a landscape contractor, instruct him or her to \u201cstop using leaf blowers\u201d<\/strong>. Don\u2019t accept using blowers \u201ca bit.\u201d Say “no leaf blowers.” Tell him or her that other landscape contractors are doing this. Discuss the alternatives in step 1 with the contractor and reach an agreement on how he\/she will handle leaves and grass clippings.\u00a0\u00a0This is key to your mutual satisfaction, to cost, and to the environment.\u00a0It is quite possible to eliminate use of leaf blowers altogether in most cases. If felt needed, we strongly recommend that electric leaf blowers be used only sparingly and on very limited areas\u2014perhaps on walkways only. Never on streets or grass. But a wide, lightweight, broom can quickly clear a walkway, for example, almost as well with zero noise. Avoid using gas-powered leaf blowers even in the allowed spring and fall periods. Other methods\u2014rakes, brooms, mulching, leave-in-place, plus some electric blowers (see step 1 above)\u2014can deal with fall leaves without disturbing neighbors.<\/p>\n

Sustainable Princeton has become very active in this area and has good recommendations: see “Conversations with Landscapers”<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

STEP 3:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>HIRE A NEW LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

If your current landscape contractor won\u2019t stop using leaf blowers, you can hire a new landscaper\u2013a \u201cQuiet Landscaper.\u201d See the attached list of Quiet Landscapers<\/a>. These Princeton-area landscapers have agreed to perform lawn maintenance without leaf blowers. Insist on no leaf blowers and discuss \u00a0how to handle leaves and grass clippings as in step 2.<\/p>\n

STEP 4:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

To go a stage further, and to broaden the impact of leaf blower avoidance in your neighborhood, talk to your neighbors about Quiet Landscaping and how it benefits your neighborhood.<\/p>\n

When you or your landscape contractor are not using leaf blowers, but your neighbors are, Quiet Princeton recommends that you talk to your neighbors in a win-win discussion.<\/p>\n