Say Goodbye To Fall Drain Clogs By Doing One Simple Landscaping Task In October

Drain clogs are more than a simple nuisance; they can cause serious — and costly — damage to your home. Trees and leaves are among the main culprits for these kinds of clogs, especially in the fall. Luckily, there is one simple landscaping task you can do in October to prevent damage to roofing, siding, and foundations: tree trimming. Professionals suggest keeping gutters and drains clear of debris, especially leaves and twigs that fall from nearby branches. Instead of cleaning your gutters endlessly, you can simply cut back branches from trees that are the cause of the debris. 

This annual maintenance task offers several benefits, including removing hazards from dead or decaying branches, improving tree health, reducing insect activity in and around gutters, and reducing root growth near pipes and drainage areas. October is the perfect time for trimming and pruning. Not only does it help prevent the dead leaves and twigs from falling into the gutters, but removing dead branches in the fall is also healthy for spring-blooming trees. 

If you know how, trimming your trees is easy, but if you're concerned about using the wrong gardening technique and accidentally killing your trees, you could call a professional. Professionals can also help you assess root growth to determine if the roots are far enough from underground drainage.

To identify branches that may be causing your drain clogs, look for ones that don't produce as many leaves as the others. They may also be a darker color or look dried out. These branches are likely dead or dying, which means they will only continue to drop debris that will cause damage. In addition, look for branches that hang over the roof where the gutters are. Once you identify the problem branches, you can trim them away. However, it is important to avoid topping the trees, which is the practice of cutting back all main branches in a line or shape, leaving exposed wood. This can lead to more damage down the road. Instead, focus on reduction.

Trimming doesn't have to be dangerous or difficult if you have the right tools. For example, Ryobi's pole lopper is a game-changer for effortless pruning and trimming. However, you may need more heavy-duty equipment, like a pruning saw or chainsaw, for larger branches. Reduction focuses on finding the leader branches, which are the ones growing out from terminals rather than laterally, and trimming them back. Plus, fall drain clogs aren't the only problem you will be solving; there are plenty of other reasons why October or November might be the best time to prune your trees. For best results, follow guidance for your tree types.