Spring checklist for gardening businesses in the UK

In short

Start in January or February, so admin and servicing are done before the round restarts.
Confirm the regular round first, because it carries most of your income.
Decide how much one-off work April can take before the enquiries arrive.

This is most of your income, so sort it first.

Confirm every client who paused over winter still wants to restart, and when.
Switch winter frequencies back to fortnightly or weekly before the dated visits appear.
Send any price changes before the first visit, not with the first invoice.
Check access, parking and green waste notes still match each site: a new gate code, a new dog, the bins moved round the side.
Find the clients who stopped booking last year without saying so. Fieldfare flags clients you haven't visited for a while, which gives you a list of people to ring.

Winter quotes and last year's one-off clients are the easiest spring work to win.

Chase quotes sent over winter that are still worth winning.
Close the stale ones so the list only shows work you could still get.
Message last spring's one-off clients. Someone who had a hedge cut or clearance last year often wants it again. More ideas in how to get more gardening clients.

Fieldfare

Have the round on the calendar before the first cut

Get these done before anyone's first day back.

Confirm seasonal staff and their start dates, and get them logged into the Fieldfare app before day one. On their first morning the day's jobs, addresses and site notes are already on their phone.
Decide what subcontractors need to see, and give them access to their own jobs only.
Check the holiday calendar. Two people off the same week in April is better found now.
Van MOT, tax, insurance and service dates checked, and who drives which van agreed.
Mowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers serviced and blades sharpened. Book the servicing in February, before the dealers' workshops fill up.

Spraying and hedge season both start soon. Get the paperwork straight while there's time to read it.

RAMS and COSHH sheets current, with every member of staff signed off. Keep them in Fieldfare's library and you can see who has signed each one, and chase the two who haven't before spraying starts.
Pesticide certificates in date for anyone spraying.
Spray records ready to log against each job.
Insurance renewed and covering any new work you plan to take on.

When should spring preparation start?

January or February. Leave it until March and you'll be doing admin and servicing while the round restarts.

How much one-off work should I take in April?

Only what fits around the regular round without bumping anyone. Give new clients your real next free date, even if it's three weeks out.

How do I handle a rush of enquiries?

Reply quickly, give a real date, and favour work in your area that could turn into a regular visit.