This is a chore that may warrant doing in the spring, not just in the fall, especially if you have evergreens, which shed needles year-round, or trees such as oaks that take a long time to drop leaves in the fall. One difference about gutter-cleaning in the spring, though, is that any drainage issues related to gutter water are far more pleasant to deal with now than when the weather is getting colder by the day.

• During a rainstorm, watch how water flows from gutter downspouts.
• If it puddles by the foundation, divert the water farther away, ideally at least 10 feet. You might need underground piping that leads to a dry well (an underground pit filled with round rocks), which a landscaper can install. Or you can pipe the water to a rain garden, a bed with fluffy soil and water-loving plants.