The Brothers That Just Do Gutters · Central Mid-South
Willow oak and leaf season gutter guide for Germantown, Collierville and Cordova
The big trees that make the east Shelby County suburbs so green drop something into your gutters almost every month. Here is what falls when, how often to clean and when gutter guards make more sense.
- Locally Owned in Memphis
- Debris Bagged and Hauled Away
- BroGuard Micro-Mesh Guards
- 18.87 in of rain November through February
- 5.49 in December rain at the airport
- 1979 median year built in Germantown 38138
The Brothers That Just Do Gutters
Central Mid-South
- Free leaf season gutter check
- Gutters cleaned by hand and every downspout flushed
- Honest advice on whether guards are worth it for your trees
Quick answer
When should you clean gutters in Germantown, Collierville and Cordova? Plan on a cleaning after the leaves finish falling, usually in December, and another in late winter before spring rain. Willow oaks are often the last to drop, and NOAA’s normals put 18.87 inches of rain at Memphis International Airport from November through February, so leaves land right as the winter rain picks up. Homes under heavy trees usually need a third cleaning or gutter guards. Call (901) 763-8330 or book online for a free written estimate.
Source: NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Memphis International Airport; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five year estimates by ZIP code, compiled by CrowdBoost Marketing in October 2026.
The leaf calendar
What Mid-South trees drop, and when
There is no single leaf season here. Each tree has its own, and together they keep gutters filling from spring to late winter.
| What falls | When | What it does in a gutter |
|---|---|---|
| Oak tassels and pollen | Spring | Long strings pile up at the outlets and mix with pollen into a paste |
| Maple seeds | Spring | Winged seeds collect in heaps and sprout in a dirty gutter |
| Maple and hardwood leaves | Fall | Broad leaves cover outlets and hold wet debris in the trough |
| Willow oak leaves | Late fall into early winter | Narrow leaves mat flat and slide into downspouts, where they pack tight |
| Sweetgum balls | Fall through winter | Spiky seed balls roll to the low point and wedge in downspout elbows |
| Pine needles | Mostly fall | Needles mat across the trough and dam the water |
Willow oaks are the tree to watch. Their long, narrow leaves are small enough to slip past the top of the gutter and down into the downspout, where they fold over and form a plug. A gutter can look clean from the ground and still have a packed downspout.
Timing
Leaves come down just as the winter rain picks up
In a lot of places, leaf season is dry. In the Mid-South, it lands right on top of the second wettest stretch of the year.
NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Memphis International Airport put November at 4.69 inches, December at 5.49, January at 4.14 and February at 4.55. That is 18.87 inches in the four months when leaves are falling and sitting in gutters.
Wet leaves are heavier than dry ones and they do not blow out. A gutter full of soaked leaves holds water against the fascia board, pulls on its hangers and spills at the corners in every storm.
Source: NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Memphis International Airport.
By town
Why the suburbs fill up faster
The older the neighborhood, the bigger the trees, and the more often the gutters need attention.
| Town | ZIP codes | Median year built | What it means for gutters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown | 38138 and 38139 | 1979 and 1989 | Mature oaks, maples and sweetgums over most roofs. Plan on cleanings in late spring, after leaf fall and in late winter. |
| Cordova | 38016 and 38018 | 1997 to 1998 | Yard trees planted with the neighborhoods are now reaching the roofline and filling gutters that rarely clogged before. |
| Collierville | 38017 | 1998 | Mixed tree cover, heaviest in older neighborhoods. Twice a year works for most homes. |
| Eads | 38028 | 1996 | Larger lots along tree lines. Runs on the wooded side fill first. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five year estimates for each ZIP code, compiled by CrowdBoost Marketing in October 2026. Figures count detached, owner occupied homes.
The plan
How often to clean, and when guards make more sense
The right schedule depends on what is growing over your roof. Here is how we size it up on a free estimate.
| Your yard | How often to clean | Best timing |
|---|---|---|
| Few trees near the roof | Twice a year | Late spring and after the leaves finish in December |
| Maples or hardwoods over the roof | Twice a year | After the spring seeds and after leaf fall |
| Willow oaks over the roof | Two or three times a year | Late spring, mid December and late February |
| Oaks, sweetgums and pines together | Three times a year, or gutter guards | Late spring, December and late February |
- Clean by hand.Every leaf, seed and sweetgum ball comes out of the trough and gets bagged and hauled away.
- Flush every downspout.This is where willow oak leaves and sweetgum balls hide. Water runs through until it flows clear.
- Check the hangers and seams.Wet leaves pull on a gutter all winter. Anything loose gets fixed while we are up there.
If three cleanings a year sounds like a lot, it is. BroGuard micro-mesh gutter guards keep leaves, tassels, seeds and sweetgum balls out of the trough so the gutter keeps draining between visits. Start with our gutter cleaning page or ask about the maintenance program.
Leaves already piling up? Call (901) 763-8330
Get a Free QuoteLeaf Season Gutter Questions, Answered
Late fall into early winter, often after the maples are bare. That is why a gutter cleaning in early November can leave the gutters full again by December.
Homes under mature trees usually need two or three cleanings a year: late spring, after leaf fall in December and again in late winter. Gutter guards can cut that down.
Their leaves are long and narrow, so they slip past the top of the gutter and fold over inside the downspout, where they pack into a plug. A downspout flush is the only way to know it is clear.
NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals put 18.87 inches at Memphis International Airport from November through February, with 5.49 inches in December alone.
A fine micro-mesh guard like BroGuard keeps sweetgum balls, oak tassels, seeds and leaves out of the trough. Light debris can sit on top and usually blows or washes off.
Yes. We clean, flush and repair gutters across Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Eads, Memphis and the rest of our service area, and every estimate is free and in writing.
Reviews
What Mid-South Homeowners Say
“Their estimate was reasonable and within close range to five other estimates. They were courteous, professional, and honest. All of our gutters were replaced in one morning, and they even took the scraps with them. Total job time from estimate to installment was only four business days. If you need gutters, call this business first. Excellent service and product/installation. Thank you!!!”
Posted on Google“I highly recommend The Brothers That Just Do Gutters! The installation was fast, and our new gutters look fantastic.”
Posted on Google“These guys did an amazing job installing gutters and replacing rotten wood at my mom’s new home. From start to finish, everything was perfect. Parker did the initial evaluation and estimate. He immediately set us at ease and gave us an honest and thorough assessment of the previous 30-year old gutters. They scheduled us in quickly to avoid any additional damage to the property, and knocked out the job in a little over 1/2 a day. Trace and Will led the work on site and walked us through everything when the work was done. I will definitely use them again!”
Posted on GoogleService area
Communities we serve
Every community on this list is inside our service area and gets the same local crew, on-site seamless gutters and free written estimates. Call (901) 763-8330 or request a free quote and a Solutionist will come out.
Free estimates
Are your trees winning the gutter battle?
A local crew cleans the gutters by hand, flushes every downspout and tells you honestly how often your trees need it, or whether guards make more sense.
The Brothers That Just Do Gutters · Central Mid-South · (901) 763-8330 · 5796 Shelby Oaks Dr, Suite 8, Memphis, TN 38134
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Locally Owned & Operated · Memphis, Tennessee · Serving Memphis, Germantown, Collierville and Cordova