What Do Landscapers Do In The Fall? (13 Services)

Fall brings unique challenges and opportunities for landscaping businesses. To maintain a steady revenue stream and attract more clients, they should offer specialized fall services throughout September, October, and November.

Landscapers boost their fall earnings by expanding their service list with essential fall offerings, using advanced landscape management software, and intensifying their marketing efforts.

The below table has 13 landscaping services to offer in the fall months.

1. Cleanup Leaves & Debris in Fall

Cleaning up leaves and debris in the fall involves thoroughly removing fallen leaves, branches, and other garden debris accumulated over the summer and fall seasons. This fall service prevents the rotting of leaves on the lawn, which can lead to diseased grass and a sub-par garden come spring. It's essential for maintaining a tidy appearance and preparing your outdoor space for the colder months ahead.

This service extends beyond leaf cleanup, it includes lawn cleanup of dead branches, debris disposal, and sometimes the final mowing of the season to ensure your garden is neat and ready for winter. The reason it's so necessary in the fall is because leaving organic waste on your lawn over winter can suffocate the grass, promote mold growth, and invite pests.

You need rakes, leaf blowers, garden bags, and sometimes lawn mowers for a final trim. Depending on the size of the property and the amount of debris, the estimated timeframe for this service can range from a few hours to a full day.

Rough price range estimates for this fall service typically start from $100 to $500, forming a part of the essential fall services list for maintaining a healthy and attractive landscape.

2. Shutdown Irrigation for Winter

Shutting down irrigation systems for winter, known as irrigation winterization, is crucial for preventing water from freezing in the system, which can cause pipes to burst and damage the entire system. This service includes draining all water from the pipes, sprinkler heads, and valves, and sometimes using compressed air to blow out any remaining water.

It's a preventative measure that saves homeowners from the headache of dealing with broken irrigation systems due to frost damage. Equipment needed for this service includes an air compressor (for blowing out water from the system), adjustable wrenches, and sometimes backflow preventer insulation covers to protect against freezing temperatures.

Shutting down an irrigation system usually takes a few hours, depending on the complexity and size of the system. You can ask anywhere between $50 and $150 for this service.

3. Aerate & Overseed Lawns in Fall

Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots, while overseeding introduces new grass seeds to fill in bare spots and thicken the lawn. Performing these tasks in the fall is ideal because the cooler temperatures and autumn rain help new grass to establish without the extreme heat stress of summer.

It's one of the more extensive fall landscaping services as it serves to revitalize the client's lawn, encouraging lush, healthy growth in the spring. Aeration helps to break up compacted soil and thatch, which can stifle grassroots, while overseeding repairs worn-out lawns and increases density.

You require a lawn aerator, which can be a manual tool or a machine, and a spreader for evenly distributing grass seed, as well as shovels and garden forks. Aerating and overseeding a lawn typically ranges from one day to several days, depending on lawn size and equipment used. Prices for this service can range from $200 to $500, making it a valuable part of any fall landscape services for those seeking a vibrant lawn come spring.

4. Prepare Gardens & Flowers for Winter

Preparing gardens and flowers for winter involves cleaning out dead plant material, cutting back overgrown shrubs, mulching, and protecting sensitive plants from frost. This service is vital in the fall to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in dead leaves and stems and to insulate plant roots against freezing temperatures.

Equipment needed might include pruners, garden forks, mulch, and protective coverings for plants. The timeframe for garden and flower preparation can vary widely, depending on the garden's size and complexity. It often takes a full day or more. You can ask between $100 to $300 for your services.

5. Plant Autumnal Flowers

Planting autumnal flowers involves selecting and installing seasonal plants that thrive in cooler temperatures, such as fall flowers and potted plants. These plants include mums, pansies, ornamental grasses and kale to keep gardens vibrant as the season changes. This service is key for adding color and life to your landscape during the fall and early winter months.

For this fall landscaping service, you'll require gardening tools like trowels, gardening gloves, and sometimes soil amendments (potting soils and fertilizers) to ensure the new plants have a healthy start. Planting autumnal flowers can range from a few minutes to a full day. This service typically costs between $50 and $200.

6. Apply Fertilizer & Control Weeds

Applying fertilizer and controlling weeds in the fall prepare the lawn and garden bed for the long winter by providing essential nutrients and reducing competition from weeds. This service ensures that a client's grass and plants have the strength to survive the winter and flourish in the spring.

As a landscaper, you must apply all specific fertilizers high in potassium to promote root growth and increase cold tolerance. It involves identifying and treating weeds that can take hold during the cooler months.

The equipment needed typically includes a spreader for fertilizer, herbicides for weed control, and protective gear for chemical application. Depending on the lawn and garden size, the estimated timeframe for this service can be as little as a few hours to a couple of days. You can ask between $50 and $300 for fertilizer application and weed control fall landscaping services.

7. Manage Pests

Managing pests in the fall involves identifying and controlling insect populations that could damage your lawn and garden, be it termites or grasshoppers. This service is essential to prevent pests from overwintering in a client's soil or on plants, which can potentially cause widespread damage in the warmer months.

Equipment needed may include insecticide sprayers, traps, and protective clothing during application. Depending on the severity of the infestation, the timeframe for pest management can vary, from a single visit to multiple treatments over a few weeks. Pricing for pest management services in the fall can range from $100 to $500.

8. Plant Trees & Shrubs

Planting trees and shrubs in the fall takes advantage of cooler temperatures and autumn rainfall to help new plantings establish their root systems before the stress of the summer heat. This service is essential for adding structure, shade, and new plants to a client's landscape.

For these fall landscape services, you will need knowledge of appropriate tree and shrub varieties for your area. You will need to be able to prepare the planting sites and properly install the plants to ensure healthy growth.

Starting a tree services company doesn't require a lot of equipment, just shovels, augers for larger holes, and watering equipment to ensure the plants are well-hydrated after planting. The usual timespan for tree and shrub landscaping in the fall can range from a day to several days, depending on the number of plantings you need to do for the client and the complexity of the landscape (rocks, gradient, etc.)

Prices for planting trees and shrubs can vary widely, but you can ask anywhere from $150 to $1,000 or more, based on the plant species and size.

9. Wash & Seal: Decks, Gutters, Driveways

Washing and sealing decks, gutters, and driveways in the fall prepares these areas for the harsh winter weather, protecting them from damage and extending their lifespan. This service involves cleaning the surfaces to remove dirt, leaves, and debris and then applying a sealant to protect against moisture and freeze-thaw cycles.

For wash and seal services, you'll need pressure washers, cleaners, sealants, and sometimes repair tools for minor fixes. Depending on the work, these services can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day or more. You can ask between $100 and $500 per service (decks, gutters, sidewalks, driveways).

10. Mulching to Protect Plants

Mulching in the fall protects plant roots from freezing temperatures, retains soil moisture, and suppresses weed growth. This service involves applying a layer of organic mulch in early fall around trees, shrubs, and garden beds to insulate the soil and provide a barrier against the cold.

You'll need to know how to select the right type of mulch for the client's landscape needs. You will need to calculate the correct amount to ensure adequate coverage without smothering the plants and apply it evenly around the base of the plants.

The tools required for mulching are few. You'll only need wheelbarrows, shovels, and rakes to spread the mulch. The timeframe for these jobs usually spans between a couple of hours to a few days. You can charge between $100 and $500 for per job.

11. Installing Seasonal Decorations

Installing seasonal decorations adds a festive touch to a client's landscape and home exterior, celebrating the fall and upcoming holiday seasons. This service includes placing decorative items such as pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and autumn-themed wreaths.

For this fall service, you'll oversee the physical installation of decorations as well as design consultation to ensure that the decor complements the client's home's architecture and existing landscape.

Equipment needed for installing seasonal decorations may include ladders for hanging decorations, hammers and nails for securing items, and possibly lighting equipment for illuminated displays. Installing seasonal decorations can range from a few hours to a full day. Price ranges for this service can start from $30 to $500 or more.

12. Install Holiday Lights

Installing holiday lights involves outlining roofs, windows, trees, and shrubberies with festive lights in anticipation of the holiday season. Similar to the above-mentioned service, you'll provide design consultation to create a lighting scheme that highlights the home's best features, oversee the safe installation of lights, and remove them in a timely manner after the holiday season.

You'll require ladders, clips and hooks to secure lights, extension cords, and timers for energy efficiency (sets you apart from your competition and works well for marketing).

Installing holiday lights often takes a day or two. You can ask anywhere from $200 going up to $1,000 or more for extensive displays.

13. Clear Snow & Ice

Clearing snow and ice is crucial for maintaining safe access to properties during the winter months. This service involves snow removal from clients' driveways, walkways, and entryways, as well as the application of ice melt products to prevent slipping hazards.

It's a service that can be performed in late fall and winter. You will need snow blowers, shovels, ice scrapers, and salt or ice melt. Snow removal jobs take, on average, a few hours but can even last a full day, depending on the storm's severity and the property's size.

Pricing for snow and ice removal services typically starts at $50 per visit and can increase based on the frequency of snowfall and the area to be cleared.

How Landscapers Increase Fall Earnings?

Landscapers increase fall earnings by adding more fall services, deploying a landscaping business software, and improving marketing efforts.

By expanding their service offerings to include fall-specific tasks such as leaf removal, aeration, overseeding, and planting autumnal flowers, landscapers can cater to the seasonal needs of their clients. This diversification not only meets the comprehensive needs of customers but extends the working season beyond the traditional spring and summer months, boosting revenue potential.

Implementing landscape business software streamlines operations, from scheduling and routing to invoicing and customer management. This efficiency can lead to reduced operational costs and the ability to serve more customers within the same timeframe, directly impacting profit margins positively.

Boosting marketing efforts to promote fall services through various channels, including social media, email marketing, and local advertising, raises awareness among potential clients. Focusing on the unique needs of the season and how your services can address those needs can attract more business.

What Landscaping Services Should You Provide?

Landscapers should provide services that are in high demand during the fall, such as leaf cleanup, lawn aeration, overseeding, and the preparation of gardens and lawns for winter. This list of landscaping services not only are highly sought after but offer substantial returns on investment due to their necessity and the willingness of homeowners to invest in maintaining their properties during this transitional season.

To pick the highest ROI fall services, business owners should analyze their local market demands, the initial investment required for equipment, and the potential pricing for the services in their area. Investing in the necessary tools and equipment to offer these services efficiently is essential, as it allows landscapers to perform tasks more quickly and effectively, leading to increased customer satisfaction and more referrals.

What Tools Are Needed For Fall Landscaping Services?

The below list are the tools needed for fall landscaping services.

• Leaf blowers: Used for efficient removal of leaves and debris.
• Lawn aerators: Used to facilitate air, water, and nutrient penetration into the soil.
• Overseeders: Used for distributing seeds evenly during lawn overseeding.
• Rakes and shovels: Used for manual cleanup tasks and soil preparation.
• Pruners and shears: Used for trimming and preparing plants for winter.
• Wheelbarrows: Used for transporting leaves, soil, and other materials.

Investing in these specific tools and landscaping equipment will enable landscapers to offer a broad range of fall services, meeting the seasonal needs of their clientele. Using a business software can help track the location and condition of your tools.

How Does Landscape Software Boost Fall Profits?

Landscape software boosts fall profits by streamlining operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. With features like job scheduling, route optimization, and automated invoicing, landscapers can reduce time spent on administrative tasks, allowing for more jobs to be completed in a day. Additionally, the Landscape project management software can improve customer communication and service tracking, leading to fewer errors, faster billing, and improved cash flow. The financial benefits include reduced overhead costs and increased capacity for taking on additional clients.

Should All Landscaping Companies Use Software?

Yes, all landscaping companies should use landscape management software. The benefits of managing a landscaping company with software include streamlined scheduling, efficient job routing, accurate quoting, and simplified invoicing, apply to businesses of all sizes. The software helps manage the workload more effectively, improves customer communication, and increases the overall professionalism of the service offered. These advantages lead to better customer retention, higher efficiency, and, ultimately, increased profitability.

How Can Landscapers Improve Fall Marketing?

Landscapers can improve fall marketing by employing strategies such as search engine optimization (SEO) to increase online visibility, generating leads through social media and local ads focusing on fall services, and engaging in direct email marketing campaigns to existing customers with tailored promotions. Highlighting winter preparation services can attract clients looking to get their properties ready for the colder months. Utilizing these landscaping marketing strategies can help landscapers stand out in a crowded market and attract more business during the fall season.

How Can Landscapers Get More Business In The Winter?

Landscapers get more business in the winter by expanding their winter landscaping services list. The most popular & profitable winter service is snow removal. Landscaping businesses that adapt their service offerings to match the seasonal demands will significantly increase their revenue.