How do you lock in seasonal jobs early in gardening and landscaping?
Contact customers in winter, offer fixed dates and follow up after the quote. That way your season is planned before the inquiries all come in at once.
The short answer.
In gardening and landscaping, you lock in seasonal jobs by contacting customers in winter, not in spring when everyone asks at the same time. Offer specific dates, keep every inquiry in writing and follow up after the first yes. That way your season is planned before the first lawn starts growing.
Which jobs can you secure in gardening and landscaping early?
The jobs you can lock in early are mainly the ones that come back every year or need a long lead time. The table shows when it makes sense to reach out. The time frames are advice from real-world experience, not fixed rules.
| Type of job | When to reach out | What you offer |
|---|---|---|
| Spring maintenance and pruning | In winter | A fixed date in March or April |
| Ongoing maintenance (lawn, hedge, flower beds) | Before the season starts | A maintenance plan for the whole year |
| Patio, path, fence | In autumn or winter | Site visit and quote, building in spring |
| New garden design and planting | In autumn or winter | Planning now, planting at the right time |
| Irrigation and equipment | Before first use | Check and start-up |
Why do inquiries in gardening and landscaping come in so late?
Most customers only think about their garden when the sun is out and the lawn is growing. Then everyone calls at once, you can't keep up, and some inquiries get lost. In winter it's the other way round: you have time, but nobody asks. My advice is to use the quiet time and actively ask customers before they think of it themselves.
How do you ask existing customers about the next season?
Ask existing customers in winter with a specific suggestion: "We still have dates free in March, shall we book your garden in again?" A question like that is easier to answer than an open one. Make it personal, use their first name and mention what you did last year. Note who replied and who didn't, and follow up again after a few days.
How do you quickly turn an inquiry into a quote?
Reply the same day, even if you only say when you'll come and look at the garden. People who get a quick response don't wait for the next company. When the inquiry comes in, ask for photos of the garden and the rough size of the area; that saves you some trips. In the quote, give a date until which it's valid and a possible start date.
How do you follow up after a quote without being pushy?
Two to three days after the quote, check in briefly to ask whether everything arrived and whether there are any questions. That comes across as attentive, not pushy. But the phone call takes time you don't have on the job site. That's why this follow-up easily gets dropped in day-to-day work. My experience: then a job gets lost because the customer simply forgets.
How does WhatsApp marketing with SmartChat help you?
With SmartChat, you send the follow-up via WhatsApp without having to call anyone yourself. The follow-ups in SmartChat keep sending automatically after confirmation, without phoning around. You collect contacts, for example, with a landing page. You can see what this looks like for your business on the page for gardening and landscaping. Messages are only sent via WhatsApp, no email or SMS.
Frequently asked questions about seasonal jobs.
When is the best time to contact garden customers for the season?
My advice is winter, when you have time and customers aren't yet swamped by the season.
What do I write to an existing customer for the new season?
Use their first name, remind them of last year's work and offer a specific open date.
How often can I follow up after a quote?
I recommend one follow-up after two to three days. After that, a second short reminder helps if the customer doesn't reply.
How do I get customers who already plan in winter?
Offer fixed dates and a site visit early. With a specific date, it's easier for customers to say yes.
Can SmartChat follow up on quotes for me?
Follow-ups in SmartChat keep sending automatically after confirmation, with no calling back.
Does SmartChat also send emails or SMS?
No. SmartChat only sends via WhatsApp.
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Last updated: By SmartChat Team