11/26/2024 - By Cort Hall

No matter where you are in the country, winter lawncare brings its own challenges to overcome as an LCO. There are a lot of things to consider during this time and it’s important to be on top of your schedule and maximize the efficacy of your efforts. In this article, we’ll bring you some suggestions based on experience to help you manage your time well throughout this season, and make sure that you’re ready to get a head start on the next.

Winter Care for Spray Equipment

Winterizing your spray tanks is important to not overlook! While there are businesses that halt applications due to snow and winter weather in the cold season, many areas of the country continue to do applications 365 days a year. One of the things I personally try to get my guys to do is spray less during the cold months and use more granular. The hoses on a spray rig kept outdoors will freeze causing a delay in getting applications done.

Any leftover water in the pumps and filter housings can also freeze and expand, causing plastic parts to crack, which is why I advise businesses to remove their filter housings and let the water drain from the pump so that they don’t have that issue, savings them money on repairs in the spring.

Check out this video from GNC Industries, Inc. on sprayer equipment winterization for more information.

Equipment Maintenance and Inventory

This is the perfect time to take inventory of what you have, what you need, and what you need to replace for the next year. Do inventory on equipment to see if anything is broken or worn so you can get it fixed while its use is slowed or paused, including spray guns, spreader parts, tool boxes in trucks, and smaller spare parts. Make sure to have a small toolbox of parts to make sure a $2.00 part doesn’t stop production for 2 days. Also take the time to do preventative maintenance on pumps, engines, trucks, etc., and anything that you think needs a refresh before the next year, this is the time.

CRM – A Deeper Dive Into the Business

Customer Relationship Management software is a game-changer for lawn businesses. They provide tools to help you track invoicing, scheduling, payment processing, customer communications, inventory management, and more all with the goal of helping your lawn business run smoothly and efficiently. You can also use CRMs to clean up your Accounts Receivable and ensure that all payments are being tracked and received on time.

Answering the questions of “How much should we increase prices this year?” and “Which goods should stay the same vs increase?” can be made simpler through the use of CRM’s ability to track profit and trends over time. We recommend doing some sort of price increase every year as demand increases and your business grows, and your Harrell's Rep can help you work on your programs/budget.

The combination of use of a CRM and help from your Harrell’s Rep will help you to iron out any pinch points in your program, figure out what you want to change/adjust for next year, and know what new products or approaches you would like to try. I always recommend making small changes to programs, that way we have a better idea of what’s working. Making 5-6 changes vs 1-2 could possibly make you lose sight of what you want to keep.

If you are a company that has not yet made the jump to setting up a CRM, winter is the best time! Harrell’s is now partnered with Spraye, an innovative software solution tailored specifically for lawn treatment businesses. If you’d like to learn more about Spraye and how they can help propel your lawn business, reach out to your local Harrell's Rep!

Goals for the New Year

Writing out your goals for the upcoming year first will help to direct your management in all other areas. I personally like to write out 2 goals that are quantified by numbers (i.e. sales goals, maybe customer count, or maybe even product waste %). I would also have 1 goal that isn’t quantified by a number, like learning more about small engines so that I can do more work in house or getting better at understanding how to choose between weed control options, for example.

And of course, 1 goal that isn’t related to work at all to help improve life outside. Making it to more of my children’s sports games or taking a vacation this year, or even just being able to spend more time at home in the evenings, anything that you can plan out just for yourself.

Winter Lawncare is Easier with Your Harrell’s Rep

As previously mentioned, your local Harrell's Rep is ready to help you develop the programs, budgets, and plans you need for a successful 2025 season. Make sure you get connected with them now to help out with your planning and sign up for a CRM, like Spraye, so you have everything you will need for the new year and manage your time in winter well.