City Councilor Susan Albright posted this on her Facebook page..
There’s a fungus among us and it’s after our trees
by Greg Reibman | Aug 15, 2017 | Environment | 14 comments
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
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Also, unfortunately, these leaves should not be composted in a backyard compost pile because typically these piles don’t get hot enough to destroy the fungus.
wow so much for no leaves during the summer. Seems like councilors really looked at all the facts when making the current leaf blower regulations. It looks like people need to start doing some fall cleanups out there. :)
here is a great link…
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/giant-tar-spot
i wish the city will allow the DPW and local landscapers an early start using gas blowers so that this mess and potential problem for next year can be eliminated/reduced. All infected leaves need to be removed off each property
We have the same issue. We’ve filled 5 bags of leaves so far – using a rake!
A fairly long stretch of Route 9 in Wellesley is completely brown, I’m guessing because of this fungus.
I just used a fan rake (as always) and i’m 77. Does that make me a tough old fool, or just an old fool? Either way, it’s an easy way to keep in shape. (Hint: keep thumbs up on the handle and use a sweeping motion.)
Alex what you need is to work six ten hr days with six different landscapers to cure you of the rake maybe then you will appreciate the blower
Joe, I know it takes less effort for the workers, if they use leaf blowers. My Dad was in the landscape/gardening business for many years, was the NYC Parks Dept. Landscape Projects Manager during WPA, owned/operated a garden center and florist shop, etc. I worked for/with him into my 20’s, and even had my own landscape business. And all this was way before there were any leaf blowers. Your father and mine both ran highly successful landscape/gardening businesses way, way before leaf blowers, even before power trimmers, edgers, etc. and mine even before there were gas-powered mowers! (I fondly remember that first Briggs & Stratton.) I know we both realize there are trade-offs between labor effort and costs, and community welfare, environmental pollution, workers’ health, etc., i.e. the so-called ‘external costs’. The question is: what is the right balance when all these things are considered? And there are commercial landscape/gardeners working around here who really do minimize their leaf blower use, and some who just don’t use them. Frankly, if people are willing to pay, or even to pay more for that, then, why not follow the market?
Alex I have lost several customers due to price increase in the spring now if you want to take all day god bless you but we have learned that the coustomers want cheap not expensive and that’s the truth we have pictures of the city vendors in violation of the law and we have shared them with the council and the mayor believe me it isn’t working it’s a joke and when the blower season opens up again you’ll see you’ll have to admit it
Our new leaf blower ordinance IS most certainly working. We have a long list of landscapers in Newton who care about neighbors and care about their own lungs and care about not polluting the air or making our neighborhoods uninhabitable with so much noise from leaf blowers. These green landscapers use minimal to no leaf blowers, these companies are working in Newton, people’s yards look great and our City is a place where neighbors can talk to each other outside. Having a vibrant community and connection with neighbors and clean air and a healthful environment is more important. Blowing dust at 180 mph in our neighborhoods is insane!
To say you have to rake all day is disingenuous. Landscapers use other tools during their work days. To also claim that we are putting you out of business because you have to work at 8 decibels quieter is also disingenuous. You can use leaf blowers every day of the year, except holidays. Why are you unwilling to compromise even one tiny iota? You live in this city with OTHER PEOPLE, many people who have expressed a need for quieter, less-polluting machines. You can still use leaf blowers every day. Why can you not compromise? Please, answer that question, Joe; Why are you unwilling to compromise? We have compromised. We want a total ban.
Karen would you be willing to publish your current list of insured green landscapers? Ive been looking for one all over Newton, but I can’t seem to find any.
@Angelo – I guess Karen is having a hard time finding you an INSURED Green Landscaper. You would hope that since she keeps promoting Green Landscapers that there must be at least one out there that is Licensed and Insured as a Commercial Landscaping Business.
If I remember, a recent letter in the Tab mentioned a list on Green Newton’s website, so found it at https://www.greennewton.org/gn-recommended-lawn-care-provider-info/. Hope this helps, Angelo.