Winter Season Success: Smart Off-Season Strategies For Landscapers

Winter doesn’t have to be a downtime for your landscaping business—it can be your growth season. Sure, the snow might stop regular landscaping, but with the right strategies, your company can thrive, not just survive. How do you keep your crew busy and your cash flow steady when traditional work is off the table? From repackaging services to expanding into high-demand winter offerings, this guide will help you turn the quiet season into a revenue-generating opportunity.   

Innovative Off-Season Strategies For Landscapers

The off-season doesn’t mean no work. It means new opportunities. Yes, landscaping jobs may slow down, but how can you keep your crews busy and profits steady? The answer isn’t just in offering snow removal. It’s in strategic repackaging and using your existing resources to offer high-demand winter services like holiday lighting, erosion control, or pre-spring landscaping prep.

Let’s break down how to make the most of your off-season and keep your business moving forward.

Repackage Your Services     

Looking to keep your crew busy? Don’t stop at snow removal. Offer value-added services like winter fertilization to prepare lawns for spring or even holiday light installations that can generate extra revenue.

Grouping services, like combining snow removal with pre-spring clean-ups, can also give you a competitive edge and keep clients locked into year-round contracts. 

The key here is to leverage your existing skills and assets for tasks that matter during the winter, such as safety checks, erosion control, or winterizing outdoor spaces.

Read: 6 Snow Removal Tips to Make the Most Out of This Winter

Diversify Your Services

Your prospective commercial landscaping leads usually seek service proposals throughout the year. Expanding your services from landscaping to snow removal, paving, decor installation, garden bed preparation, pest control, weed suppression, pressure washing, etc., can create a “one-stop-for-all” identity for your business. This strategy can help position your landscaping business as a reliable field services partner, ultimately bringing money to the table year-round.

And if you’re looking to stand out, becoming a “one-stop-shop” is great, but it’s about finding the services that bring in the highest margins in winter. Snow removal is obvious, but what about offering pressure washing for salt stains on commercial properties? Or pest control treatments that set clients up for spring?

You can also consider bundling diverse services together. For example, you can offer packages that combine snow removal with a discount on spring garden bed preparation during winter. This encourages clients to sign contracts for multiple services, which gives you year-round business.

Similarly, if you provide pest control services in the winter, include a free assessment in spring to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. Clubbing services like this can build trust and encourage repeat business.

Read: How to spot and convert landscape enhancement services opportunities in your existing customers?

Revamp Marketing Strategies

A robust marketing program enhances brand visibility and customer engagement when diversifying your landscaping business. The first step is to have a dedicated meeting with your marketing team, where you can actively brainstorm and develop actionable plans. (not acceptable) / repackage differently)

Instead of overwhelming your prospective clients with generic ads, focus on strategic marketing techniques that resonate with the landscaping industry.

Here are a few strategic techniques to look at:

Seasonal Promotions: Launch early-bird spring cleanup packages. Promoting these services ahead of the season lets you keep your business at the top of your clients' minds as they look forward to tidying their yards.

Promote email campaigns for existing clients: Contact your current customer base with targeted email campaigns. Inform them about bundled winter services like snow removal or holiday decor installation. This will remind them of your year-round availability and encourage repeat business.

Focus on Google My Business Optimization: Mark your online presence by updating your Google My Business listing. Run seasonal offers and showcase your recent and older projects with high-quality photos and testimonials. 

‍Up your social media game: Use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to share project photos, customer testimonials, and tips for seasonal yard care. Post photos and videos that promote engagement with users, which in turn helps you widen your network and increase your chances of new businesses.

Referral Programs: Request satisfied clients to refer friends and family by offering incentives such as discounts on future services. Word-of-mouth marketing and a structured referral program can be very effective for landscaping businesses.    

Read: How to Tell the Perfect Story with Positioning and Branding: Marketing Strategy for Your Landscaping Company

Rest and Reset

Off-seasons are a great time for your crew to upskill and upgrade their skills to excel in the next peak season.  This period can be efficiently used to conduct training sessions on new tools, safety protocols, maintenance procedures, etc. Additionally, the winter season gives you ample time to catch up on documentation, project planning for the next season, reflection on your company's performance and pain points, and more. 

Actively engaging in these activities can help you support your team's growth while ensuring they are motivated and well-equipped to face the challenges ahead. 

Recap

Winter might slow things down, but it doesn’t have to stop your business. 

Repackaging your services, focusing on high-value winter offerings, and investing in smart marketing strategies can keep your business thriving through the cold months. Conducting training sessions for upskilling and organizing other bonding sessions with the team can also significantly positively impact your employees’ attitude and commitment to your landscaping business. Whether you’re offering holiday lighting, snow removal, or winter pest control, the key is to stay proactive. Plan, train, and refine your approach now so you’re ready to take on next season at full speed.

Further Read: Choose Sustainable Snow Removal Practices This Winter

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