Snowstorm brings business boom for Central Virginia landscaping companies

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Though Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have been working to keep roads clear, homes and businesses have also been left covered by a blanket of snow from the recent storm. That’s where local landscaping companies come in.

The recent snowfall has given many such businesses an opportunity to put their snow removal services to use.

After the recent snowfall, several companies say they've been flooded with calls from homeowners and businesses.

Commercial properties such as office buildings and churches have been in greater need of shoveling solutions -- and companies like Aerations Plus have stepped in to answer those calls.

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The Powhatan County-based landscaping company has been in business for over 25 years. Corey Fulcher, the company’s vice president, told 8News that they purchased a plow truck in 2022 and this is the first year that staff has had a chance to use it, given the increase in snowfall.

“Being a landscaping company, we're not able to go out and work [during winter storms] … there's some things that we can do when there's snow on the ground, but a lot of the stuff we're not able to get our guys out to actually get the work done,” Fulcher said. “So they get hours all during the snow and then they take a break while it's melting. And then, once it melts, we get back out there and do our landscaping stuff.”

Much of their work starts ahead of the snow and continues into the overnight hours as they clear the way for people to get to their cars.

“Typically, we go out [and] we pre-treat majority of our sites -- and that's always prior to the storm, about 12 hours or so,” Fulcher said.

He added that this recent snowstorm posed a challenge because, although the snowfall went on for several hours, there wasn’t as much accumulation as they expected.

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For Aerations Plus, the snowfall hasn’t only boosted business, but also provides steady work for crews during the winter months.

“We're able to keep everybody employed throughout the winter time and keep them making money and able to pay their bills,” Fulcher said. “And, if it's snow on the ground and they can't work outside, then they don't get paid -- so when we have snow and we're able to actually do the snow removal, they're making money and they make a little bit more when they're working overnight. It's really beneficial for everybody within our company.”       

While we are in for some warmer weather in the coming days, winter is far from over. However, this local crew says they’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature may send next.