Leafy Gutters and Lawns - Be Gone!

Summer’s leafy green foliage is changing into beautiful colors, but before long, the colors will fade and the leaves will fall. What’s leftover is a big mess, clogging gutters and covering lawns. Here are some helpful hints to make sure you’re prepared.

Gutters:
Gutter cleaning before the winter is crucial because buildups of sticks, leaves and other debris in your gutters can cause ice blocks, leading to bigger problems during winter. What’s the best way to tackle this leafy problem?

For technology buffs, iRobot has the answer. The Looj is an awesome remotely-controlled gutter cleaning robot that will clean your gutters for you! It fits right inside the gutter and does all the work, cleaning 10 feet of guttering per minute over downspouts and under gutter spikes, saving you tons of time and headache.




If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, make sure you’re prepared with all the tools to do the job correctly. Either way, you’ll need to make sure you have a safe and sturdy step ladder or an extension ladder and, after a season of sticks, seeds, limbs, leaves, bugs and other debris, make sure you protect yourself with a pair of work gloves.

Check all of your guttering, screens, and guards to make sure they’re in good shape and ready to channel water off your roof and that your downspouts are clear and effectively moving water away from your house. Winter ice or snow buildup can cause loose gutters to fall, so be sure to check that your guttering is properly secured. If your gutters have pulled away from the boards that they’re nailed to, you’ll need a hammer to take care of any loose gutter spikes. If your gutter spikes are no longer securing your gutters, consider replacing them with gutter screws or long lag screws (sometimes called lag bolts). Lag screws can have a bolt-style head that will fit a socket and a screw tip that will give more security than traditional gutter spikes. Have a screwdriver or socket and ratcheting wrench handy to secure any loose gutter or lag screws. If you have clogged downspouts, you can usually clear obstructions by spraying water through the downspouts.

Gutter Scoops – You can buy gutter scoops that are made to fit your gutters so you don’t have to dig all the dirt out by hand or you can create your own, recyclable gutter scoop. If you’re handy, here’s how you can make a gutter scoop out of a soda bottle. You’ll need an empty soda bottle and a box-cutter or similar cutting tool.

Step 1: Lay the soda bottle on a surface that’s safe to cut on. You’ll probably want to leave the top on the bottle if you have it.

Step 2: Place your knife on the top of the bottle about 4 inches from the bottom.

Step 3: Cut the bottle diagonally, cutting from top to bottom so you have a nice scoop to get the trash out of the gutter.

Step 4: Try your newly-created recyclable gutter scoop and adjust the size of the opening if you feel it needs to be larger.

Leaves Everywhere:
Now, as for the leaves on the lawn, there’s always the traditional rake to keep things clear, but if you want to minimize your yard work, you can speed things up tremendously with an outdoor blower. Blowers are very useful for moving small debris as well as leaves because they can clear lawns, decks, patios, driveways and other surfaces that rakes aren't designed for.

But, if you must rake, rake the most efficient way. I like to rake toward an old sheet that I’ve laid out, because it usually requires the least raking possible. I always use sheets because they’re more pliable than tarps. Tarps can be stiff and I always seemed to spill leaves when I tried to use them. Using a sheet is also a good strategy if you have a fence or obstacle and need to move leaves or debris around it. And remember, it’s easier to rake downhill than uphill.

If you’re raking a lot, regularly switch the side of your body that you're raking on so you don’t get as tired.

Enjoy! Now I’m going to make like a tree. And leave.