Put down the leaf blower and back away slowly.
If you're an avid leaf-patroller, this may prove difficult, but trust me -- it's not only good for the environment, but for your lawn and garden.
Leaf blowers generate an exorbitant amount of emissions for their size: a recent ban of older two-stroke models in Los Angeles is being estimated to remove 14 tons of air pollution annually. Many California trade organizations are hosting trade-in events at which professional landscapers can receive a discount on newer, low-exhaust blower models.
But I'm guessing you are not a professional, and that you have just one lawn to take care of. Suffice it to say you do not need a leaf blower.
For the best lawn next year, there are a couple of simple options.
You can mow your lawn with no bag (which you are already doing anyways, right?), which effectively mulches the leaves right into the lawn, roots and all.
Another, even-lazier, strategy, is to simple leave the leaves where they fall. One caveat however, if there is an area of your lawn that is literally carpeted in leaves, rake up some of them -- leaving about a quarter-inch of coverage -- and compost the excess. You don't want to have the grass buried, just lightly blanketed. This "blanket" will, over time, contribute to the overall health of your lawn by adding organic material and micronutrients to the soil.
If you have a problem with leaves blowing onto a neighboring leaf-patroller's lawn, you can rake them into flower beds and vegetable gardens en masse, for the same effect on that soil.
This whole "leave the leaves" thing is a perfect example of the reality that environmental awareness does not necessarily make life more difficult. It is a series of small, weighted decisions that in the long run, tend to save money and time.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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