Your Yard and Clean Air

Small Engine Garden Tools are Big Polluters - Most people do not associate air pollution with mowing the lawn. Yet emissions from lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, leaf vacuums, and similar outdoor power equipment are a significant source of pollution.

Today's small engines emit high levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. They also emit hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, pollutants that contribute to the formation of ozone. Emission controls for small gasoline engines has not been a crucial design consideration until now. Small engines are big polluters and power equipment users inadvertently contribute to the problem by carelessly handling fuel and improperly maintaining their equipment.

Pollution Prevention in Your Own Backyard- EPA anticipates that new regulations now being developed will bring cleaner lawn and garden equipment to market within a few years. Meanwhile, consumers can make a difference by adopting practices that will help protect the environment now and in the future:

Consider cleaner manual and battery powered options.
Propane and solar options are also available for some types of equipment. Electric and battery powered equipment is cleaner than equipment powered by gasoline engines. Electrically-powered lawn and garden tools produce essentially no pollution from exhaust emissions or through fuel evaporation.

Use manual hand powered tools
Tools that don't require electric or gasoline engines are especially handy for small yards or small jobs. Hand tools are available to meet a wide variety of lawn and garden needs, like lightweight, quiet, easy-to-use reel push mowers that generate no emissions.

Reduce mowing pollution

Use low-maintenance turf grasses or grass/flower seed mixtures that grow slowly and require less mowing. Check with your local agricultural extension service or lawn and garden center about what is appropriate for your region. Decrease lawn mower noise and air pollution with a battery power mower or choose from a large selection of robotic battery powered mowers. Plant additional trees and shrubs to reduce the energy costs of heating and cooling your house and to provide landscaping for wildlife. Native wildflowers and plants require little to no maintenance after planting.

Recycle old equipment

Instead of selling or giving away your old lawn and garden power tools, take them to a recycling center where they can be converted into raw material for use in cleaner equipment and other products.

By combining these strategies, you can reduce your personal contribution to pollution. In addition, your yard equipment will last longer and you will save money.

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Why Choose Lawn and Garden Tool Systems

Many homeowners aspire to have a well-maintained lawn as well as a beautiful garden. Achieving this feat is however now possible with a choice of tool systems that function with one interchangeable power source.

Keeping a neat trimmed lawn or a weed free garden now does not require a garage full of bulky tools. Home owner now can select either a battery, electrical or gasoline power source that comes with attachments to trim, edge, till and prune hedges or trees.

However, owners have to be careful with regards to what tool systems they buy and how they take care of them so they can last their entire lifespan and prove to be effective in their quest for a lawn and garden that will be the envy of your visitors. The choice of garden tool should start with the choice of power source.

Improvements to battery technology now offers the cordless power tools as a viable competitor to two stroke gasoline tools: but with the added appeal of ease of starting, less noise, lower maintenance costs while delivering eco friendly benefits.

Tools owners should consider the type of soil, how hard or soft the ground is as well as the size of the lawn and garden to be maintained. How big the garden is may require that you use gasoline or electrical machines rather than having to recharge frequently. Navigating large yards or acreages may make it impossible to function at the end of a long electrical cord where remote power generators can alleviate this problem with either gasoline or solar generator alternatives.

Current garden tool systems come with attachments to till the garden, trim and edge the lawn, cut small brush, pruner trees and hedges with small saw. New cordless lithium powered tools from are extremely light since the user wears the battery on his/her waist. One battery operates all the tools for added convenience. Additional batteries are available for larger tasks. Some of the tool systems come in handy kits to use the common household drill to perform activities including bulb planters, weed planters, lawn trimming, and dandelion removal.

Even after acquiring a lawn and garden tool system, one will need to take good care of them so they can be effective during their entire lifespan. Manufacturer's instructions will be vital in keeping them safe. In addition, they will have to be batteries will have to be stored properly to extend useful life. Power cords, parts and casings if any should be checked regularly for any defects that may result in accidents or failure.

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