Alternatives.
Wait.
Wait for the leaves to fall.
Leave them.
Leave leaves behind.
Manual Tools.
For smaller and meduim jobs, rakes and tarps are quick and efficient.
Go Electric.
They are safer, quieter and a cheaper alternative.
Wait for leaves to fall.
They are beautiful and beneficial. Landscaping crews typically mow and blow every week. Instead let the mowers mulch the leaves, mulched leaves quickly sift down and provide essential macro- and micro-nutrients to the soil. Ask your landscaper to only mow until all the leaves have fallen.
Leave leaves behind.
Consider them as a benefit to your garden rather than a waste product. Leaves have been described as gardener’s gold. Leaves provide protection and nutrients for the plants and trees. If leaves are not stripped away with blowers they will create a natural free mulch.
Use manual tools.
Since removing every single leaf is bad for the environment, a rake and tarp can be quick and efficient way to get the bulk.
More best practices can be found at Healthy Yards
Go electric.
Electric Blowers are quieter
A backpack electric blower similar to the gas that landscapers use are 8 times quieter and weigh half as much. (ACE)
Electric Blowers are less expensive to operate.
Home owners with landscapers have options:
Home owners can continue to pay for their weekly service but ask their landscaper to only use an electric blower a couple times a year. This can benefit your landscaper with cost savings in labor and materials. Compared to weekly labor and materials(gas/oil/filters) that they are currently incurring blowing leaves. (read more about cost savings at American Green Zone Alliance)
Home owners can purchase a battery electric tools dedicated for their properties and allow their hired maintenance crews to use.
Home owners can use a green landscaping company that will use electric tools (resources page)