Green roofs are a neat idea, but honestly they're not a magic bullet for everyone. Had a client last spring who installed one thinking it'd solve his gutter issues completely. It worked great initially, but after a heavy storm, debris from the plants themselves clogged things up pretty badly. Ended up causing overflow and minor water damage. They're definitely cool setups, but you still gotta keep an eye on maintenance—nature finds a way to surprise you every time...
Yeah, green roofs definitely aren't maintenance-free. I installed one on my shed a couple years back—mostly sedums and low-maintenance stuff—and while it's been great overall, I still have to clear out the gutters twice a year. Usually once in late spring after all the pollen and petals drop, and again in fall when leaves pile up. It's less hassle than before, but nature always throws something unexpected your way...
I've had similar experiences with my green roof setup. I went with a mix of sedums and wildflowers, thinking it'd be pretty hands-off, but yeah, nature has its own ideas. The gutters definitely need attention around late spring—between pollen, petals, and those sneaky maple seeds helicoptering in, it's a bit of a mess. Fall cleanup is a given, but I've also found myself checking after heavy storms. A couple times I've had unexpected debris build-up from wind-blown branches or even bird nests (those little guys really love the greenery up there...). Overall, still less work than traditional roofs I've dealt with, but definitely not the "set it and forget it" solution some folks advertise. Still worth it though, in my opinion.
I've noticed the same thing with my setup, though mine's not a green roof—just regular shingles. I figured gutter guards would save me some hassle, but honestly, they don't stop everything. Those maple seeds are relentless...they somehow wedge themselves right through the mesh. Usually, I end up doing a thorough cleanout twice a year—once in late spring (like you mentioned, pollen and seeds galore) and again in late fall when the leaves finally finish dropping. But yeah, storms can throw a wrench in that schedule. Had a pretty big branch land up there last summer after a nasty thunderstorm, and it clogged things up good. Learned my lesson and now I do a quick check after any heavy weather. Still beats paying someone else to do it, though, and definitely cheaper than dealing with water damage down the line.
Haha, gutter guards are like those "miracle" kitchen gadgets—great in theory, kinda meh in practice. I usually hit mine early summer and again mid-fall, but storms always mess that up. Ever tried using a leaf blower from the roof? Risky, but oddly satisfying...
