How Many Times a Year Should One Clean Rain Gutters

You should clean rain gutters several times a year or as often as needed. Cleaning will depend on the surroundings around the home. The trees used for landscaping close to the home such as pine or pin oak trees can affect the drainage of the gutters. These species of trees have small leaves and needles that can clog gutters fairly often.

In the Spring

• Clean gutters in the spring after spring buds and blooms have fallen from the trees.


• Spring showers, winds and storms can cause early foliage to quickly fall. The foliage runs with the rain water from the roof and through the gutters. This foliage can clog rain gutters and prevent proper drainage.

During Fall

• With fall season comes the falling of leaves, twigs and branches that clog rain gutters. 


• You need to properly maintain gutters during the fall season until all the leaves are done falling.

Due to surroundings around the home

The type of trees planted around the home may cause gutters to clog more rapidly. Species of trees with small needles or leaves that shed frequently are:

• Pine trees, which drop pine needles and pine cones year round.


• Pin Oaks, red oaks and willow oaks, which have thin leaves.


• Cedar trees, which have small needle-like leaves.


• Willow and weeping willows, which have bright green, slim, narrow leaves that are delicate and that shed easily from rain and wind.


• Fruit bearing trees like pecan and hazelnut, which bear nuts that can fall and clog gutters.