The Dangerous Leaf Blower Mistake Home Experts Are Warning About

The Dangerous Leaf Blower Mistake to Avoid lucentius - Getty Images For all the convenience leaf blowers provide, the outdoor power tool is not without its controversy. There are even those who say a leaf blower should never be used, including my old boss, Martha Stewart (I worked at her magazine for a couple of years back in the 2000s). One of her concerns is that using a leaf blower for its primary job of clearing leaves from the yard can impact the habitat of overwintering insects, which are beneficial for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

Fortunately, you don't have to choose between a leaf-free yard and supporting pollinators. Planting a diverse flower garden filled with native species and limiting the use of pesticides are great ways to have both. But there are other controversial uses for leaf blowers that I do object to, mainly because they're dangerous.