Tips to Tidy Up Your Roof and Gutters

In the fall, your yard and gutters see more leaves and limbs littered over the yard. 

If a storm rolls through, you can expect debris-filled lawns. Here are some helpful cleanup tips.

Fallen debris on these areas can cause some serious damage to a home:

• Roof
  • Wet branches and leaves keep moisture in contact with shingles, tiles or metal sheets on your roof, and this water will find ways to penetrate the roof if left sitting.
    
• Gutters
  • Clogged or leaking gutters quickly lead to rotten fascia boards. Clean them with a garden trowel or scoop made from an anti-freeze bottle. For faster cleaning, use a leaf blower, like the RYOBI ONE+ 120 MPH 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Hard Surface Leaf Blower/Sweeper.
  • Once you’ve cleaned the gutters, check downspouts with a water hose and blast out any leaves.

Trimming back trees in the fall leaves you with less mess for the rest of the season. Here’s how to get the job done:

• If a storm hits, inspect trees and powerlines first.
  
• Be cautious around damaged trees and broken limbs — prune broken limbs back to a healthy branch
  
• For taller trees and thicker limbs, consider calling in a professional — especially if branches are dangerously close to power lines.

Here’s why it’s important to clean up debris from your yard and lawn:

• Leaves and organic debris can harbor fungi, bacteria and overwintering insects.
  
• Leaves can become matted and moldy, smothering the ground.
  
• Fallen branches can create traps.
  
• When you add all of these to a compost pile, these ingredients are transformed into the world’s best plant nourishment.
  
• If a storm hits, separate various debris into three piles for easy cleanup — vegetation, garbage and construction waste.

Watch the video for more information!

Further Reading

• How to Clean and Inspect Your Roof
• Roof Cleaning Tips
• The Best Way to Clean Gutters