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Leaf blowers are the bad boys of the landscape trade. They’re loud (as much as 80 decibels and higher), and the gas-powered ones pollute the air. The Associated Press reports that leaf blowers can startle birds and injure or kill pollinators and insects. Their powerful (up to 200 mph) blasts of air blow away mulch, cause erosion and disrupt ecosystems. But, boy, are leaf blowers handy.