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  Gavin Gray August 19, 2015 at 1:03pm

  Pruning, fencing, gritting, snow clearing, slabbing, block paving etc
  
  All weather permitting of course!
  
  Depending on your climate then you could still be cutting grass into December
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  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance August 19, 2015 at 7:36pm

  Winter is a good time for tree pruning & felling, rose and certain shrub pruning, hedge reductions, planting and border reorganisation, turfing, applying organic matter to beds, training and tying in and anything else that you don't get time to do in the growing season.

  Finding the right gardens and clients is very important. When you have the right gardens (usually larger with maturity) and clients who are both willing and see the merit in having certain things done in winter, then you will be fine.
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    Gary RK > Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance August 19, 2015 at 8:51pm

    This topic pops it's head up quite often and it takes a mindset change to consider, educate clients and push out work to the Winter.

    It's a good topic to do an LJN search on....

    In all but the serverest Winter, like Stuart mentions, there is host of jobs that can be done.

    The bigger question is - do you want to work in during the Winter or close down for a break ?

    The last few years, the Winter months has generated as much, if not more, revenue for us than typical Spring/Summer/Autumn months.
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      Christopher McLaughlin > Gary RK August 20, 2015 at 7:24am

      I would definitely like to work. I have built up a decent client base for lawn care/garden maintenance and like you say can educate and explain several jobs that can be done in the winter.
      
      Currently rotating between one week landscaping and one week garden maintenance. The week I'm filling landscaping is one I will need to advertise for the winter.
      
      Do you guys advertise more/spend more time on it for those winter months?
      
      Just this common perception from a lot outwith our profession Is that us landscape gardeners are quiet in the winter.
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  Richard Gadsby August 19, 2015 at 8:07pm

  I try to do as little as possible from after Christmas until the first week of March! It's surprising how much work comes in when you try and hide at home!!!
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  Andrew Watts August 19, 2015 at 9:38pm

  A lot of customers don't realise that work can be done over winter; but if you make them aware of the services available, there is always plenty to do. Typically, you're known to them, and so they'd rather give you some of their smaller jobs than go to the trouble of finding others to quote. We offer fencing, gutter clearance (with vacuum), patio cleaning, leaf clearances, patio brush in re-pointing, pruning / tidying etc  - pretty much anything outdoor. We send out an email in Oct reminding people and have always filled the diary till end feb. Sometimes too much and it has spilt into march, but we still did so as to not let people down. I do close for 2 weeks at Xmas for a break!
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  Steve London Stone August 20, 2015 at 9:25pm

  It sounds like there are plenty of opportunities to keep rolling on through the winter. Why not get a small, quality pamphlet made detailing all the different jobs that can be done through the winter and also explaining the benefits of getting the jobs done at that time of year? Dish it out to all your regular clients, you'll most likely get a few jobs in th diary <br />
  <br />
  Steve
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  Phil Voice August 21, 2015 at 8:31am

  One of the easiest ways of drumming up extra winter work is through existing clients.

  Let clients know what you're available for - perhaps through a monthly newsletter - but also identify jobs you see need doing and suggest it to your client.

  Apart from the days I was forced into hibernation, I operated an all-year-round service. I also managed to provide work for several employees too.
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  Andrew Midgley August 23, 2015 at 10:53pm

  I am busy all year round and I am lucky that over 2/3 of my clients have large mature gardens that require work through the winter. I find that the last 3 years I have been busy up to Christmas and then it drop to 3 to 3 1/2 days until early March. There are plenty of tasks than can be done and I find that by suggesting jobs for the autumn and winter often get you through. Also be prepared to do non gardening task such as cleaning drains and gutters and pressure washing as well as giving outdoor wooden furniture a coat of oil/paint for wet weather. Also servicing your client's mowers is a good source of income too.
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  Angela Sharp September 1, 2015 at 7:21pm

  It is one of my big frustrations that there is a view of the garden 'winding down' post September/October, even from some keen gardeners. I do my best to point out that there are some jobs better done in the middle of winter - fruit tree pruning for one (apples and pears of course), and grapevines. Clearing dead perennials and mulching in either autumn or early spring when you can see the soil is another good winter job I agree. As is feeding of shrubs in early spring.

  I think a lot of it is down to the fact that people don't want to spend the money all year round. They can see that a garden which is in growth needs to be controlled but one that has gone to sleep is best, or at least can be, left alone in many people's minds and is no longer another household expense to think about. The trouble is they often also want to have lovely gardens and don't realise the best way to achieve that is to do certain jobs in winter.

  I sometimes contact clients by email or text suggesting particular jobs that suit the season. Sometimes they bite but often they don't because they don't go out there in winter so don't want to think about it. I quite value my quiet January and February. It can often be too cold to do many gardening jobs anyway (I don't do the fencing/landscaping side as a rule). I get household jobs sorted but I do feel a lot poorer!