Smart Ideas for Off-Season Work for Landscapers

What do landscapers do in the winter? With these ideas, they keep earning money.

Snow removal is an obvious winter service for any lawn care business to offer, but not every landscaper works in a snowy area. And even if you do, a mild winter can easily knock this option out of the running. That’s why we’ve rounded up plenty of other ideas for off-season work that aren’t dependent on the weather. Whether you typically get plenty of plowing work or don’t have that option at all, these ideas can be easy ways to generate more business. 

5 Winter Landscaping Jobs That Aren’t Plowing Snow

1. Gutter Cleaning Services 

 

Cleaning out gutters is a simple service everyone needs and that you can offer without investing in any additional equipment. Most homeowners recognize the importance of cleaning out their gutters before winter, but many would be happy to hand that chore over to someone else. 

2. Pressure Washing

  

Fall is the perfect season for pressure washing many different surfaces and you can often find a pressure washer that’s up to the job for under $200. Some pressure washing services you can offer are:

• Roofs and siding.
• Decks.
• Porches and patios.
• Driveways and walkways.
• Fences.

You can even use a pressure washer to easily clean out gutters. Just be sure to familiarize yourself with the right detergent type for each different surface before you start offering this service. 

3. Winter Lawn Prep

  

There are a range of tasks designed to prepare a yard for winter that many people would be glad to hand over to you. These include:

• Trimming back trees and shrubs.
• Removing dead plants from flower beds and planters.
• Draining sprinklers.
• Dethatching and aerating the lawn.
• Fertilizing the lawn.
• Planting bulbs that will sprout in the spring.
• Wrapping young trees in protective burlap.
• Moving patio furniture and other lawn and garden items into storage (Many seniors and people with disabilities appreciate this option).

You can easily put together various winter prep packages offering different combinations of services.

4. Leaf Removal

  

This is a great way to bring in on-going business during the off-season that doesn’t depend on snow fall. While many customers will opt for a one-time cleanup in late fall, plenty of others, especially those with lots of trees on their property, will want regular leaf removal throughout the season. Depending on how late in the year trees in your area go bare, this could mean up to eight cleanups for these customers. 

5. Christmas Light Installation and Removal

  

This is one of the most profitable winter jobs for landscapers. Between materials and labor, a single house could net you up to $1000 for the installation (depending on your area and the size of the project), plus the fee for removal. Some landscapers also offer to store customers’ lights until next year for an additional fee. 

However, getting into this business takes more effort and planning than the other ideas for off-season work on this list. Here’s what you need to know:

• This job involves working on ladders and (at times) on roofs. You’ll likely need additional workman’s comp and liability insurance due to the added risks you’ll be taking on.
• You may also need professional insurance to cover potential issues such as overloading a customer’s circuit breaker or even causing a fire.
• If you plan to store lights for customers after removal, you may need theft insurance too.
• You’ll need to find a commercial wholesaler to buy materials from. Brite Ideas and Holiday Bright Lights are popular options.

If you decide this is the right move for your business, you’ll also need to work out a removal schedule that keeps your customers happy. Most people want to leave their lights up until New Year’s Day but want them down by January 31st. 

Depending on how many customers you get, this tight window could leave you paying overtime during the off-season. So, make sure not to overextend yourself if paying overtime isn’t feasible.

Everybody’s Workin’ For the Winter

Whether you combine these jobs with snow plowing or not, these ideas for off-season work will keep your lawn care business busy throughout the winter. Have you had success with offering any of these services? Comment and fill us in on what worked for you.