The wintertime lull – it’s to be expected. Unfortunately, the so-called ‘hibernation’ season is not so lucrative for your landscaping business. To keep busy throughout the season, you need to expand your services and products. Now’s the time to get creative – think of all the innovative ways your company can broaden its potential and still be profitable this time of year. If you’re having a difficult time thinking of some ideas, here’s a list of potential business opportunities to get you started. As cliché as it sounds, the sky really is the limit.
Clean up perennial flower beds:
The perennial garden needs to be tended to throughout the winter in order to see a fruitful bloom in the spring time. In fact, winter neglect is one of the main reasons your customers’ gardens are not what they should be come spring. Educate your clients on the importance of proper winter care and upkeep and offer your services to them.
Perennials that bloom in the summer and fall are best planted in the late winter/early spring. Late winter is also an ideal time to dig out the perennials you want to move. Offer to prepare the garden beds and replant the perennials in a new location.
Late winter pruning is also essential for the restoration of the garden. Without proper care through the winter months, shrubs and trees will look raggedy and haggard. Pruning plants by cutting them back 6 to 10 inches (depending on the species) will help them resume growth in the spring, creating fuller, more vibrant gardens.
For more information on preparing gardens for winter, see LMN’s Winter Preparation Checklist
Clean up storage areas:
The garage is one area that tends to pile up with junk fast, especially during the winter months when your customers are moving things indoors. Cleaning up the garage can be a huge project and, one that your customers are likely dreading. Why not offer to take the job off their hands? If you market your service right, you’ll find tons of people who are more than eager to hand the work over to you. The same service can be offered for storage rooms and pool sheds.
Winterize irrigation systems:
With our harsh winters, irrigation systems must be winterized to prevent water from freezing in the pipes, valves, heads and pumps, thus, requiring expensive repairs in the spring. In the late fall, or before the first signs of frost, all water must be removed from irrigation systems. This can be done with an air compressor, which works to blow the air out of the system.
Here’s how to use an air compressor to winterize irrigation systems:
1. Turn off the water on the master valve (make sure the master is tagged for the homeowner’s reference)
2. Start at highest elevation point (usually on top of hill).
3. Physically attach the air hose to the irrigation system. Keep this valve open for the entire process.
4. Turn on the compressor at the valve and watch for the water to come out of the sprinkler (should take around 2 minutes, give or take). Water should transition from mist to air. Once it turns to air, the water is out of the valve. It is best to keep a little residual water in – continuing to blow out the system could lead to damage).
5. Manually open each valve in order so you know when each zone is clear of water.
6. Be sure to open the next valve first before closing the valve that has just been cleared. Close the valve and move on to the next one.
Snow and ice removal:
There are many opportunities for residential and commercial snow removal and may include a “per-time,” “will-call” basis or full season contract. Snow removal services may include clearing roads, parking lots, driveways, walkways, sidewalks, decks, roofs, etc.
Supply firewood:
Log harvesting and distributing is another way to keep busy this winter. Firewood sales skyrocket in the colder months, not only because people are looking for any means possible to keep warm, but because traditional log-burning fireplaces – with their soothing crackling sounds and smoky aroma – are making a comeback. More and more people are after that authentic, long burning fire that evokes that ‘cozy atmosphere’ we all crave in the winter. You can sell wholesale to retail outlets or retail to homeowners, offices, commercial buildings and the general public.
‘Interiorscaping:’
Many people move their gardens indoors when the cold winter hits. This practice is known as ‘interiorscaping’ and, while some people simply move their plants indoors to provide a safe haven for them during the cold weather, others prefer to use the warm indoor temperatures as an opportunity to go all out and create a truly unique landscape design.
Tropical plants and prized specimens are more likely to thrive indoors, which is why many garden enthusiasts are excited about designing their own indoor landscapes. Some customers may even be looking for indoor water features and special indoor lighting that will show off their interiorscape. Winter holiday plants, like poinsettias, and festive landscape decorations are also popular around this time of year.
Advertise your services and your expertise – many customers are looking for someone with a knack for decorating who can help with designing their holiday landscape.
For more ideas, check out our blog: the Landscape Management Network blog.
Landscape Management Network is a collection of systems, tools, and training to help great contractors build and manage great businesses. Visit the LMN website.
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