4 Ways Lawn Care Businesses Can Earn Income During Off-Seasons

As the days get shorter, lawn care businesses often see their job prospects start to dwindle. Without a steady stream of yards to mow, water and manicure, client work decreases well below its summertime threshold. Whether you’re ready or not, the off-season is coming. How will your landscaping business earn income throughout the rest of the year?

Luckily, a pinch of creativity and the right equipment will set you up to perform valuable services during the fall, winter and spring to tide you over until next summer. Here are four ways—just don’t forget to find lawn care business insurance that covers your current and potential services. CoverHound can help you find a flexible policy at affordable rates.

Fall: Yard Clearing
Summertime storms can really do a number on a yard, especially when families are too busy with vacations and back-to-school antics to spend hours each weekend cleaning their outdoor space. That’s where you come in. Major components of your autumn services may be raking, composting and mulching. Clients with deciduous plants and trees will appreciate you offering a service that saves them hours per week and boosts their lawn’s overall health.

Winter: Snow Removal
Snow is a beautiful thing… until it blocks people’s driveways, walkways and stairways. If your lawn care business has the right equipment to help, your services may be in high demand come wintertime. Your company’s fee will depend on where you live, but CostHelper offers a few pricing guidelines to consider:

-A single worker using a shovel, snow blower or mower plus snowblade: $25 to $75 per hour

-Plowing an average two-car driveway after a storm: $35 to $45 per event

-Plowing an angled, gravel or large driveway after a storm: $50 to $65 per event

Spring: Yard Preparation
The spring is the perfect time to ramp up for growing season. Your clients may not know exactly what steps to take to get their yard in peak growing condition. Lawn care companies are perfect for “de-winterizing” yards (including removing straw beds and dead plants). You can also bolster plants with eco-friendly fertilizer, dig garden beds, prepare potted outdoor plants and more. A little preparation here will help your customers achieve a lush yard a few months later.

Year-Round: Tree Trimming
Have heavy-duty pruning shears and personal safety equipment? Great! If you know when and how to effectively prune trees, you’ll be a great asset to customers. Different seasons will necessitate different kinds of pruning; for example, spring pruning (after flowering) is preferable for many fruit-bearing trees. Otherwise, late-winter pruning is recommended to get a healthy jump on growing season. Dead branches should come down immediately for safety, especially because one bad storm can bring a branch (or an entire tree) crashing down on a home or vehicle.

Expanding your services from lawn care is an excellent way to rake in income year-round and cement lasting relationships with clients. Just make sure your lawn care business insurance covers your expanded offerings—especially when it comes to workers’ compensation and liability! Explore policy options today with CoverHound.