Spring is coming fast. If you own a landscaping or lawn care business, you know what that means: long days, new jobs, and the need for extra hands. Waiting until the last minute to hire your crew means losing jobs and profit.
Here’s exactly how and when to hire and train a solid crew—fast—so you’re ready before the season hits.
When to Start Hiring Seasonal Workers
The best companies never wait until March or April to find new workers. If you want the best crew, you start early.
- Start Hiring Early. Aim to post your job listings by late January or early February. This gives you time to screen candidates, conduct interviews, and train your new hires before jobs start piling up.
- Hire More Than You Think You Need. It’s better to have one or two extra employees than scrambling mid-season to fill gaps when someone leaves or gets sick.
If you haven’t already, start today.
Best Ways to Train New Employees Fast
The quicker your employees learn, the sooner they make you money. Here are simple tips to train your workers fast:
- Hands-On Training. Put your crew out in the field right away. Don’t waste too much time on videos or books. Get them using equipment, doing the jobs, and learning the ropes by actually doing the work.
- Pair with Experienced Employees. Pair new hires with your best workers. They’ll learn faster and won’t make expensive mistakes.
- Use Simple Checklists. Create straightforward checklists for common tasks (like mowing, edging, cleanup, and equipment care). This makes learning easy and keeps quality high.
- Weekly Check-ins. Spend just a few minutes each week reviewing your crew’s performance. This helps correct problems quickly and keeps your crew improving.
How to Structure Pay to Keep Good Workers Around
You don’t want to hire good people and then lose them halfway through your busiest months. Here’s how to keep them loyal:
- Competitive Pay Rates. Pay slightly above local averages if possible. You’ll attract better workers and they’ll stay longer.
- Bonus Structure. Offer simple bonuses for attendance, performance, or safety milestones. Small incentives keep your crew motivated.
- Clear Promotion Path. Show them exactly how they can earn raises or promotions. Employees stay when they see a clear future.
- Reward Loyalty. Offer raises or small perks to workers who come back each year. Even small rewards build long-term loyalty.
Tools That Help You Manage Employees Efficiently
If you’re still running your crews using texts, emails, or messy paper notes, you’re leaving money on the table. Using software specifically built for landscaping makes everything easier.
- Time Tracking Apps. Track hours easily, avoid costly payroll mistakes, and manage overtime.
- Scheduling Software. Quickly schedule jobs, make updates, and inform your entire team instantly.
- Job Management Tools. Easily manage estimates, invoices, and client communications in one place. Spend less time at your desk and more time earning money.
Among these options, Jobber stands out for landscaping businesses due to its simple design and powerful features that streamline scheduling, team communication, job tracking, and payments.
Hiring and training your landscaping crew early makes all the difference in how much money your business makes each year. Get ahead of your competition, pay competitively, train efficiently, and manage your crew smartly.
Want to make crew management even easier and save money while you’re at it?Check out our partnership with Jobber for an exclusive discount to start your season right.
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