How to Fill Your Landscaping Schedule All Summer Long

By Dipa Gandhi

 

 

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When the sun starts shining and lawns begin to green, homeowners and businesses alike look outside and see possibility. For landscaping contractors, this seasonal surge can be a blessing—or a missed opportunity. The summer months offer some of the highest demand for landscaping services, but staying consistently booked takes more than just waiting for the phone to ring.

Many contractors struggle with a feast-or-famine cycle. One month is packed, the next is quiet. But some have cracked the code and built thriving businesses with waiting lists deep into the season. The secret lies in offering strategic, in-demand summer services and knowing how to market them effectively.

Missed Calls, Missed Profits

The problem isn't a lack of work—it's missed opportunities. When a homeowner drives past a neighbor's manicured yard or struggles with a brown patch in their lawn, they're ready to spend. But if your business isn’t positioned to solve that problem quickly, they’ll find someone else who is.

Too often, contractors:

• Rely solely on word of mouth or old client lists
• Don’t update their website or local listings with seasonal offers
• Lack a clear list of high-value summer services

Worse, many don’t have the staff or systems to manage incoming leads efficiently. Every un-returned call or slow response is a missed chance to fill the schedule—and another day the truck stays parked.

Why Some Contractors Are Booked Solid by June

Take Antonio, a landscaping contractor in Tampa. For years, summer meant anxiety about cash flow. But after a brutal season of slow bookings, he changed his approach. He stopped offering “general landscaping” and focused instead on clear, high-demand summer services with strong visuals and fast turnarounds. His bookings tripled in 90 days.

He emphasized services like:

• Sod installation: Perfect for instant curb appeal. Homeowners want fast transformations, and fresh sod delivers.
• Mulching and bed refreshing: Quick, affordable, and visually dramatic—ideal for real estate listings or backyard parties.
• Irrigation system checks and installs: With scorching heat, smart homeowners prep their lawns to survive summer.
• Outdoor living space upgrades: Paver patios, fire pits, and garden lighting can transform a backyard into a summer oasis.
• Seasonal flower planting: Colorful and quick to complete—ideal for repeat visits and subscription-style services.

Antonio also used simple before-and-after photos on his Google Ads landing page and emphasized urgency in his calls-to-action, like “Get your backyard BBQ-ready this weekend!”

Services That Sell Themselves

The key to booking out your summer isn’t just the labor—it’s offering services that almost sell themselves. Focus on projects that:

• Have high visual appeal (great for photos and testimonials)
• Can be completed in a day or two
• Offer recurring maintenance or follow-up opportunities
• Solve problems common to summer (heat damage, dry lawns, messy yards)

Some ideas that consistently convert:

• Lawn leveling and dethatching: Helps with water absorption and turf health.
• Tree and shrub trimming: Prevents summer storm damage.
• Outdoor lighting: Safety, aesthetics, and party-ready yards in one.

How to Keep Leads Flowing All Summer

You can’t wait for customers to come to you. Savvy contractors are investing in:

• Lead generation services like 99 Calls that bring in exclusive, high-intent leads from homeowners in need.
• Optimized Google Ads campaigns targeting local searches like “sod installation near me” or “backyard landscaping ideas.”
• Well-maintained Google Business Profiles, loaded with fresh photos, reviews, and summer offers.
• Follow-up systems—email or text—to stay top of mind with spring and fall clients who may want a summer refresh.

What You Can Do Today

If you're ready to stop stressing over the calendar and start filling it, take these steps now:

• Make a list of your top 3 fastest, most profitable summer services
• Add updated seasonal photos and offers to your website and online profiles
• Launch a local Google Ads campaign targeting summer-specific searches
• Use a lead generation partner like 99 Calls to keep your phone ringing
• Set a 24-hour callback goal for new inquiries

Summer only lasts a few months—but a booked schedule now can fund your business through the rest of the year.