Planning for Winter Log Service

My final service of the year is called a Winter Log Service. What is a Winter Log Service? It’s purchasing and delivering a box that’s made up to look like a hollowed-out log, filled with greens and seasonal decorations. A piece of bark, or slice of outer wood with bark still on it, is placed on the front of the box to give it its festive appearance.

The basic service is to pick up and deliver a decorated winter log to the cemetery. This is what’s on your website, and it’s all your clients need to know. Behind the scenes, though, it’s a bit more involved.

A winter log set on a bed of fresh mulch helps the gravesite look tended through the holidays.

I start planning in October and deliver the logs after Thanksgiving. Here are the main steps and considerations for the Winter Log Service:

1. Make a list. When I started grave tending back in 2016, there weren’t many people who wanted winter logs. In fact, the first year I offered decorated wreaths and had zero takers (I still have unused wreath stands in my garage). These days, over 70% of my clients want a winter log placed. I use my master client list spreadsheet to record who wants a winter log, and how many headstones they have.

   I also make a note of new clients to contact about this service, as they may not know it’s an option. I also list others I want to confirm. If someone purchased a log last year, chances are they will want one again. But unless you know a client wants (or doesn’t want) the service this year, give them a call (or email…or text) to check. It may save you stress second-guessing yourself.

2. Note any preferences. One can’t help but notice winter logs for sale at every nursery, home improvement chain, and grocery store. Usually the logs are 12” long with greenery and a few seasonal decorations like bows, balls, and birds. They can range from modest and natural to, well, over-the-top tacky. ;-)

   You probably understand your clients’ tastes, but it’s good to check if they have any preferences. For example, one of my clients likes a silver and blue winter theme while another is all about Christmas. I keep a box of decorations to supplement what I’ve purchased, just in case the decorations aren’t quite right for a certain client. It makes swapping out easy—and I save some money by adding the unused decoration to my supply box for next year.

3. Choose the log size. Look around and you’ll notice a plethora of 12” logs. Other sizes are available, but most stores don’t carry many…and they go fast! When it comes to headstones, the right size is important. I measure each headstone so if my client decides they want a winter log, I don’t have to guess at the size.

   My advice is to choose a box size that is smaller than the headstone (not the base) by around 6”, because greenery usually fans out 3” on either side of the log. For example, if a headstone is 18-22”, I choose a 12” log. If the headstone is closer to 30”, I look for an 18” log. I even have a few sites that are large enough to support a 24” or even 36” log. Finally, some of my smallest stones look best with a round basket instead of a log.

4. Source the logs. The first few years, I purchased my logs as-is from the nursery. This worked just fine when there were only a few logs to deliver. Once I started to grow, I began to purchase empty logs from a supplier and then place an order for them to be filled per my specifications at the nursery.

   Because I supply the logs, it takes a bit of coordination to ensure the right client’s decoration preferences match the right log. My method is to drop off the empty logs at the nursery with an index card of instructions (the client’s name, log size, and preferences such as color scheme). I also staple a business card to the side of the log with the client’s name on it, to help us all keep in sync!

5. Delivery. I know Halloween decorations show up in stores in August, and I saw Christmas décor on sale the other day. But I doubt many clients appreciate an out-of-sync winter log delivery. I personally wait until the weekend of Thanksgiving (and after the holiday itself) to start my deliveries.

   All my winter log clients book a Winter Prep Service, which means the flowers are gone and there is a fresh, even layer of mulch, so dropping off logs is quick and easy. If your client is brand new, or hasn’t asked you for a winter prep, you may need to work a bit to ensure an even, centered log placement. Fortunately, logs are heavy, so you won’t need to worry about wind knocking them aside.

Note that winter logs are reusable. I pick them up from the cemetery in late February, clean them out, and inspect them. If the bark looks good and the wood is still solid, I store them for next year. This saves money and is better for the environment. Pro Tip: Cemeteries have different times they do their own spring cleanup and will usually post when those dates are, so some logs may be lost if you wait too long.

Finally, if you choose to offer your clients a Winter Log Service and you only have a few takers, purchasing a pre-decorated log may be the best way to go. My advice is to trust yourself; you’ll know when you need a change in process.