Winter work for gardeners, landscapers and tree surgeons

Finding winter work for gardeners and landscapers is a yearly headache. The phone goes quiet, days are short and the weather cancels jobs. But some of the busiest outdoor businesses use winter well: they line up work, keep in touch with customers and get ready for spring.

Winter jobs outdoor trades can offer

Plenty of jobs suit the colder months:

• Tree work. Many trees are easier to assess and work on once the leaves have fallen, and outside the main bird nesting season you’re less likely to have to stop for active nests. Always check for nests and wildlife whatever the time of year.
• Hedge cutting and reshaping, for the same reason.
• Garden clearances and cutting back overgrown areas.
• Fencing repairs and replacements, especially after winter storms.
• Hard landscaping on dry days: paths, edging, raised beds.
• Planting bare-root hedging and trees, which is traditionally done in the dormant season.
• Storm call-outs. Fallen trees and broken fences need urgent help. Make sure customers know you do emergency work and how to reach you. See call-out charges and minimum charges.

Say so on your website and Google Business Profile. Customers often don’t realise these jobs can be done in winter unless you tell them.

Book spring work in winter

The customers who want a new fence, patio or garden in April are often planning it in January. Give them a reason to book early:

• Let people get a price on your website any time, so they can plan over the winter. See instant quote calculators.
• Offer early-booking slots for spring, so they don’t miss out.
• Post a reminder in January: “Spring diary now open.”

Get back in touch with past customers

The easiest work to win is from people who’ve already used you. A short message to past customers works well in winter:

• Gardening and hedge customers: “Would you like to book your spring tidy-up?”
• Tree customers: “It’s a good time of year to look at the trees we didn’t get to last time.”

Only send marketing messages to people who’ve agreed to hear from you, and make it easy to opt out.

Use quiet weeks to fix the business

Quiet weeks are a chance to do the jobs you never have time for:

• update your website photos with this year’s best work (website checklist);
• check your prices against your costs (how to price a job);
• ask happy customers from the year for reviews (how to get more Google reviews);
• sort your van, kit and paperwork.

Plan your cash flow for the dip

Put a little aside in the busy months, and know roughly how many jobs a week you need to cover your costs. That makes it easier to say no to badly priced work just because the diary looks empty.

Questions

What can gardeners do in winter?

Hedge cutting, clearances, pruning, planting bare-root plants, leaf clearing, fencing and hard landscaping on dry days, plus planning spring work with customers.

Is winter a good time for tree surgery?

For many jobs, yes: trees are easier to see without leaves, and you’re outside the main nesting season. Always check for wildlife and protected trees first. See tree preservation orders explained.

How do I keep regular clients over winter?

Offer a reduced winter schedule rather than stopping altogether, and book their spring visits early.