When grass goes dormant this time of year, many local landscapers are changing gears \u2014 swapping mowers for ladders and turning holiday lights into steady paychecks.<\/p>\n
For companies like Augusta Lawn Care Services in Rockport, the holiday season isn\u2019t just festive \u2014 it\u2019s essential. As colder weather slows regular yard work, crews are booking rooftop Christmas light installations to help cover winter downtime.<\/p>\n
Landscapers swap mowers for Christmas lights<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas lights and hot cocoa\u2026 that\u2019s Christmas,\u201d said Joe Helgerson, general manager of Augusta Lawn Care Services in Rockport and Portland. \u201cWe don\u2019t get snow down here, so we put up Christmas lights to let us know it\u2019s coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in landscaping and groundskeeping typically dips during the winter months, prompting many businesses to look for seasonal work to keep employees on the clock and checks coming in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something to fill that winter slowdown,\u201d Helgerson said. \u201cThe lawn care goes away, the grass starts to go dormant. Nobody\u2019s really landscaping in the winter.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, Helgerson says demand is up. Calls for holiday light installations with Augusta are up roughly 40 percent since Thanksgiving, providing reliable hours for crews and helping businesses avoid layoffs during a traditionally slow season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t had to lay anyone off because of Christmas lights,\u201d Helgerson said. \u201cIt helps keep our guys employed \u2014 they still have hours and steady paychecks.\u201d<\/p>\n
As more landscaping companies expand into holiday lighting, professionals say homeowners should do their homework before hiring an installer \u2014 especially when it comes to safety and liability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing is to make sure you\u2019re licensed because you\u2019re taking care of someone\u2019s home \u2014 that\u2019s the number-one asset they have,\u201d said Jimmie Fielding, branch manager with ABC Home & Commercial Services. \u201cOnce customers trust you, the sky\u2019s the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Experts recommend homeowners ask for proof of licensing, insurance and references, and to make sure pricing and safety plans are clearly outlined in writing before any installation begins.<\/p>\n
For many crews across the Coastal Bend, the holiday lights are about more than seasonal sparkle \u2014 they\u2019re a lifeline helping local families make it through the winter.<\/p>\n
For the latest local news updates, click here<\/a>, or download the KRIS 6 News App.<\/a><\/p>\n