With winter on its way and its inherent bone-chilling temperatures and falling snow in many parts of the country, many landscape contractors have chosen to add snow removal services as a way to supplement their income and retain their employees.

It should go without saying that winters can be tough for the landscape industry. Trees become more and more barren, turf stops growing, flowers aren’t even in season— to recycle a tired pun, come winter, the landscaping season becomes virtually frozen.

If youre living and working in a four-season climate and you?re not already offering snow and ice removal, chances are you?ve wondered about it.

For the typical nine- or ten-month seasonal landscape contractor, the first snowfall is just another symbol of the end of the year.

The days are getting shorter, the nights longer. As summer turns to fall, more than just the weather is changing for the landscape contractor.

So you’ve decide to take the plunge and add snow and ice removal to the services you offer. But before getting in over your head, there are several factors you should consider.

Snow is like Hollywood--tourists love it; locals can’t stand it. Homeowners and businesses get fed up with snow real quick, and often look for professionals to remove the horrible white stuff for convenience, safety, and access.

We live in an age where people sue fast food restaurants because their food “made” them obese, or their coffee was too hot. Tobacco companies are legally attacked by people who willingly smoked their cigarettes, despite the warnings on the package.

Little Johnny used to love the snow. As soon as the fall leaves would begin to float to the ground, he?d start wishing for a foot or two of the stuff. Many a Sunday night would find him perched in front of the television watching the local forecast, praying for enough snow to cancel school.

Snow and Ice Removal ... turning that white stuff the color of money BY JANIE FRANZ The end of the growing season, when snow begins to fall, doesn’t have to trigger the e