There are few things that can be as challenging to a landscaper or gardener as the winter months. Work is totally dependent on the weather conditions, and there is also the problem of less day light hours within which to work. However even with these limitations, many gardeners and landscapers are still able to run their business successfully during the winter season.
Here are some useful tips for getting through the winter months.
Suggest Potential Work to Existing Customers:
There are still plenty of jobs that can and should be done during the winter months, so it is worth identifying winter tasks and discussing these with your clients during the summer months. The winter is a great time to tackle well stocked gardens that are overgrown. Trees, shrubs and hedges can be pruned as the frozen ground can make it easier to get equipment to the trees without destroying the turf.
You can offer to remove garden waste, and carry out structural work such as repairing / put up fencing or laying patios. If the weather is really bad then you could take up snow ploughing to clear drive ways and paths. Lawns still need to be mowed so the grass doesn’t get too long as it may cause snow mould when there is heavy snowfall.
This is a great time to test the soil and repair any lawn that has been worn out during the summer months. Fallen leaves need to be cleared to reduce disease and moss growth. Trees and shrubs in particular fruit trees are best pruned when they are dormant to remove any dead material. Also vulnerable plants will need to be protected or moved into a green house so as to avoid the heavy frosts.
Brush Up on Skills:
This can be a great time to update your qualifications. Taking courses will enable you to add new skills, which you may use in the summer months to get additional work. So look for specific courses that will compliment your existing skills and services, or courses that will open up new areas of opportunity and improve your knowledge base. It is also a great time to attend industry shows to keep up to date on the latest trends in your industry.
Take Time Off:
The winter season can also be the best time to take your annual holiday. You can use that time to rest or you can use that time to do your planning for the year ahead. This time can be spent on organising your business with tasks such as budgeting & bookkeeping, or updating your marketing documents and website. You can use the time to maintain any equipment that may have stopped working during the season. Supplies that are needed for the next season can be ordered so they will be with you in time for the next season.
Do Something Else:
There is also the option of getting involved in other parts of the horticultural industry, such as buying and selling Christmas trees, delivering logs for wood burners and fireplaces. If you are are good at making things, you could have a go at making garden ornaments or bird houses for sale online.
If none of these are suitable and you have other skills, then taking temporary work in a related field such as being a handyman may be the best solution.
So while it can be the most challenging time for gardeners and landscapers, the winter months can also provide opportunity for those who are prepared to be innovative and flexible.
