Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85891
Special Section: SNOW REMOVAL s you crank up the AC for one of the hottest sum- mers on record, snow may be the furthest thing from your mind. But with only a few months until snow-removal season begins, it's not too soon to map out your plans and dust off your equipment. As more landscapers become full-service provid- ers, the number turning to snow removal is also increasing. Offering snow-removal services can help sup- port your landscape business until it picks back up in the summer. And if you already own the larger equipment needed – such as skid steers and pickup trucks – you need only purchase or rent a plow, spreader or blower. "From sweeping parking lots to clearing snow, landscapers are looking for ways to make more money while offering value to their customers," says James Truan, vice president of sales and marketing, SnowEx (snowexproducts.com). Here's how to make sure your clients, employees and equipment are ready come winter. Where to start Paul Opdyke, co-owner of Serene Surroundings (serenesurroundings.com) in Plymouth, Michigan, began offering snow-removal services eight years ago to cover overhead costs in the off-season. About 80 percent of their snow-removal services are com- mercial, with the rest being residential. This past winter, Opdyke saw his snow service "We try to plan for every wild scenario." grow 30 percent from 2011 – even though overall snowfall was lower. Know What Equipment to Use Parking Lots 1 to 3 acres: Plow truck 3 to 6 acres: Machine with 14- to 16-foot pusher and a plow truck More than 6 acres: Machine(s) with 20-foot pushers and at least one plow truck Tip: Do most of the heavy work with the pushers, and use the plow trucks to clean the curb and other lot edges. Windrow the snow away from obstacles. He credits this, in part, to having more customers with snow-removal contracts, instead of paying for the service per occurrence. The heavy snow in 2011 helped nudge his clients toward signing contracts, Opdyke says. With a contract, customers pay a reoccurring fee regardless of snowfall, but they are guaranteed service when it does snow. Have a good, detailed contract in place for each 46 TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE / August 2012 Sidewalks Long, average-width walks: ATV or other small machine Wide walks: Small skid steer with a pusher or blade Tip: Snow blowers can tackle deeper snow but are typically slower and less effi cient than a shov- el in lighter accumulations. – David Gallagher, LandOpt, landopt.com