Three jobs matter in autumn, and one of them is best left alone.
Gutters, from the ground
A gutter kit with a curved lance clears a downpipe and a run of guttering without a ladder. Two rules: work with the lance pointing away from the roof edge, and expect what comes out to land on you — do the walls and windows afterwards, not before.
Drains, before the rain does it for you
A drain hose clears the accumulation that turns a heavy October shower into a flooded path. Feed the hose at least a meter in before pulling the trigger, and stop the water before withdrawing it.
Leaves — dry only
A sweeper clears dry leaves faster than anything else without a motor. Wet leaves mat around the roller, and no amount of pushing helps. Set the brush height a little high for leaves, low for grit.
And the terrace: wait
Cleaning stone in autumn gives you a clean terrace for two weeks. Growth returns on a damp surface that never dries, and treatments are washed off before their dwell time is up. Save it for spring — and use the autumn to winterize the machine instead.
The questions we hear
Why will my sweeper not pick up wet leaves?
Because they mat around the roller and stop it turning. Every mechanical sweeper shares this limit — the good ones say so on the box. Dry leaves are swept quickly; wet ones need a rake, a blower, or waiting for a dry day.
Is autumn a good time to clean a terrace?
It is the worst. Stone cleaned in October stays damp, algae returns within weeks, and any treatment gets diluted by rain before it has finished working. Do the heavy terrace clean in spring or in a dry spell, and use autumn for gutters and drains.
Last reviewed 2026-08-15
