Living with Green Solutions
When it Rains, it Pours.
Caring for your gutters and downspouts
Spring - March
Fall - October and November
• Becertainguttersanddownspoutsarefreeof
leaves,branches,andotherplantmaterial.
• Keepleavesfromcloggingguttersand
downspouts.
• Checkthatdisconnecteddownspoutsflow
ontogardenoryardareas.
• Checkthatdisconnecteddownspoutsflow
ontogardenoryardareas.
• Checkthatrainwaterfromdownspoutsdoes
notflowdirectlyintothestreetoronto
aneighbor’sproperty.
• Checkthatrainwaterfromdownspoutsdoes
notflowdirectlyintothestreetoronto
aneighbor’sproperty.
Caring for your rain barrel
Spring - March
Fall - October and November
• Checkoutyourrainbarrelfordamagefrom
winterweather.
• Keepleavesfromcloggingguttersand
downspouts.
Istheoverflowpipebroken?
Isthecatchbasin/basketbroken?
Doesthefaucetleak?
Replaceorrepairdamagedpieces.
• Cleanouttherainbarrel,ifnecessary.
• Checkdirectionofoverflowpipe.Itshould
bedirectedawayfrombuildingsandintoayard
area.Itshouldnotflowontoaneighbor’s
propertyordirectlyintothestreet.
• Closethefaucetandbecertainthegutteris
directedintotherainbarrel.
• Attachyourhosefordischargingwaterfrom
yourrainbarrel.
• Checkthatdisconnecteddownspoutsflow
ontogardenoryardareas.
• Checkthatrainwaterfromdownspoutsdoes
notflowdirectlyintothestreetoronto
aneighbor’sproperty.
Caring for your rain garden
Spring - March and April
• Whentheweatheriswarm,rakeleavesand
otherplantmaterialfromtheraingarden;put
thismaterialinacompostpile.
• Pullanyweedsstartingtocomeup.
• Replaceanydeadplants.Divideplantsthatare
gettingtoobigandspreadouttoomuch.Plant
theminotherplacesinyouryard,orpassthem
ontoafriendorneighbor.
• Addmulchtotheraingardenifneeded.
Summer - May to August
• Checkyourgardenevery1-2weeks.Arethe
plantsgrowingwell?Areweedsandweedy
grassesstartingtoshowupinyourgarden?
• Pullanyweeds,likecrabgrass,fromyour
gardenthroughoutthesummer.Itiseasierto
pulltheweedswhentheyaresmall.Theycan
beapest,can'tthey?
• Wateryourgarden,especiallythefirst2years,
ifSt.Josephbecomesdry(norainfor2-3weeks)
duringthehotsummer.Oneinchofwaterper
weekisgood.Usethewaterfromyour
rainbarrel!
Fall - September to November
• Continuetopullweedsandweedygrasses.
Theycontinuetosproutandgrowduringour
nicefallweather.Whatpests!
• Rakeleavesfromtheraingardenthrough
Octobersotheplantsgetsunlightandkeep
growing.
• Leavealayerofleavesforwinterprotection
whenNovemberandfrostyweatherarrives.
Photo: URS Corporation