NOTES FROM THE FIELD: Plant growth in gutters

Surprisingly, plant growth in gutters is far more common than you might think. Recently our team headed out for a routine cleaning, and found extensive plant growth in a section of gutter. 

From what our team could tell, the gutter had a small amount of decomposed plant matter at the base, and had consistent water all season long. 

This formed enough of a foundation for plant growth - and with the addition of seeds (likely blowing through the wind) the gutter had a new tenant. The weeds we removed weren't huge, but big enough to cause future problems as they continued to grow. In one other section of the house, we found ivy-like weeds growing up into and around gutters. Our team removed these in order to minimize the chances of future issues. 

One more reason to check these things regularly - weeds and growth can quickly clog or damage gutters. Don't let this be you!