You put a lot of time and effort into your home and garden. When you need to clean the gutters or siding, you will want to ensure that bushes and plants closest to the house are properly protected. There are things you can do when maintaining the exterior of your home, so that there is minimal impact on the landscaping.
Sometimes gutters and siding can be easily cleaned with several applications of clean water, with from a standard garden hose or a power washer. In most cases, however, you will need to use some kind of detergent solution to remove grime, dirt and debris.
The most obvious first step is to cover any bushes and plants that you are concerned about with fabric drop cloths or tarps; avoid plastic sheeting since it might overheat the foliage. Make sure that they are secured; even a slight breeze can shift any protective covering out of place. To help keep them healthy during the time they will be covered, mist the leaves of flowering plants and shrubs, and then thoroughly water the ground around them.
Limit the use of harsh chemicals and select biodegradable or environmentally-friendly products wherever possible. Try diluting cleaning liquids with as much water as is practical. If you need to remove mold or mildew from the gutters or siding, use heavy duty waterproof tarps that have been tightly fastened to help protect your plants from being discoloured or damaged by a bleach solution.
Pull any shrubs or trees away from areas that will be affected by overspray. You can do this with rope or string wrapped around the shrub or tree and then secured by a stake in the ground or properly tried to a stationary object.
