Over the past few months, we have touched on a lot of the issues that occur during the summer months and how planning in the summer can be a huge profit engine for the fall season. Summer storms exposing drainage issues, the heat taking its toll on turf and washout damaging lawn areas all come to fruition as we wind down to shorter days, cooler nights and the kids headed back to school.
The common mantra headed to Labor Day is “Fall is for planting.” Planting is often synonymous with landscape design and the installation of woody and herbaceous plant material. But fall is for planting anything and everything that grows roots, and the cooler temperatures that come along with it create the perfect time of year to get those products into the ground.
It’s no mystery that installing drainage creates havoc. Trenching through lawns for pipe, installing trench drains and creating subsurface pits to store water all lend to major disruption of the turf. This degree of disruption creates less heartache when the establishment of seed comes on a much quicker timeline and at a time of year that lends itself to the best results.
Turf comes in quicker, fuller and becomes established going into the winter. This:
- Makes homeowners happy
- Helps prevent erosion over the winter months
- Gives contractors a great base to begin a spring program
Many homeowners invest in lawn renovations to address thin turf, bare spots, weed pressure and poor overall appearance. However, in many cases, these symptoms are caused or worsened by drainage issues. Standing water, saturated soils, erosion and compacted ground create conditions where healthy turf struggles to establish and thrive.
If these underlying problems are not addressed, even a professionally renovated lawn may fail to meet customer expectations. Before recommending a lawn renovation, look beyond the surface and consider whether drainage could be contributing to the problem.
A typical homeowner is often more receptive to drainage improvements when they are presented as part of an overall lawn restoration plan rather than as a standalone project. When customers understand that proper drainage protects their investment and helps ensure a healthier lawn, they are more likely to approve additional work.
This consultative approach positions the contractor as a trusted partner rather than simply a service provider.
When proposing the full scope of work, emphasizing the advantages of completing everything at one time can be the difference between getting the job and losing it. So many contractors specialize in one aspect of the business or another:
- Lawn care contractors may not see the value of installing drainage.
- Drainage contractors may not know enough about turf to secure the full project.
- Contractors who understand both can identify more opportunities and provide a more complete solution.
Taking the time to educate yourself across multiple categories is what can differentiate you from your competitors.
That is where Central Pro can help. Our staff is knowledgeable across all the categories you can sell. The only bad question is the one you do not ask. We are not here to sell you products. Central Pro is your partner in growth, and we want to see all of our contractors grow in revenue and in profit.
In today’s competitive landscaping market, successful contractors look beyond individual services and focus on complete property solutions. Bundling drainage with lawn renovation can:
- Create healthier, more resilient landscapes
- Generate higher sales
- Strengthen customer relationships
- Improve project profitability
- Help contractors differentiate themselves from competitors
- Deliver measurable value that customers appreciate for years to come
Diversification is a key part of profitable growth. By addressing both surface appearance and underlying water management challenges, contractors can provide more value while creating additional opportunities to grow their business.