Top-rated landscapers in Augusta, GA

Augusta sits on Georgia's fall line, where Piedmont clay gives way to Coastal Plain sand, so the soil under one yard can differ from the next. This guide covers that, the city's tree rules, watering and yard waste, and what to check before you hire landscapers or a tree service. For the statewide picture, see the Georgia guide.

On the fall line: clay and sand

The New Georgia Encyclopedia describes the fall line as a boundary about twenty miles wide running from Columbus to Augusta, with sandy soils to the south and clay to the north.

Sandhills are also found on the fall line, with nutrient-poor quartz sand "extremely low in water-holding capacity." In practice:

• Lawns and beds on sandy ground can dry out quickly.
• On clay lots, if water stands after rain, see yard drainage solutions.
• Either way, start with a soil test (below) before liming or fertilizing.

Help from the Richmond County Extension office

UGA Extension's Richmond County office, at 501 Greene Street, sends soil samples to the UGA lab in Athens for $8.00 per routine S1 test (pH, lime and nutrients), with results in about 7 to 10 business days. It also diagnoses plant problems from photos emailed to [email protected]. See our guide to lawn soil tests.

Fall lawn advice from Campbell Vaughn, the county's Extension coordinator, in a UGA article:

• Pre-emergent: apply it in fall to keep winter poa annua and henbit in check. See pre-emergent timing.
• No late nitrogen on warm-season grasses, since new growth can be damaged by an early frost.
• Overseeding: he doesn't recommend ryegrass unless you have a ball field or a grazing pasture. Bermudagrass is the only warm-season grass he calls acceptable for it, done by mid-October. See overseeding a lawn.

Augusta's tree ordinance

The city's Illustrated Guide to Implementing the Augusta Tree Ordinance, from the Planning & Development Department, sets the standards:

• Development: land being developed must provide at least 30 percent tree canopy, preserved, planted or both.
• Street trees: every removal needs a Tree Disturbance Permit, and whoever does it must meet the ordinance's insurance and bonding requirements.
• Pruning: the guide states "no tree topping allowed." See when to prune trees.
• Landmark trees: the Tree Commission and the Augusta Commission can designate trees of historic interest, high aesthetic value or unique character.

The Tree Commission reviews variances, appeals and landmark petitions. Planning & Development is at (706) 821-1796.

Trees to think twice about

The guide's recommended trees are hardy for zone 8 (check your ZIP on the USDA map). Its list of trees not recommended for Augusta includes Bradford pear (splits apart, invasive), Leyland cypress (canker-related dieback), silver maple and box elder (shallow roots, weak wood), water oak, mimosa and all ash trees (emerald ash borer). Worried about an older tree? See signs a tree is dying.

Watering

During drought responses, Augusta Utilities has recommended landscape watering between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. daily, and only when necessary. New plants, seed or turf (for 30 days), drip irrigation, soaker hoses, food gardens and hand watering with a shutoff nozzle are exempt. Call 706-821-2300 for current rules.

Yard waste pickup

Augusta's yard waste rules matter if your landscaper leaves debris at the curb:

• No plastic bags. Use paper Kraft bags or 32-gallon open-top containers marked "YARD WASTE."
• No item longer than 5 feet. Bundles can be tied with string or twine.
• The limit is 10 cubic yards a week, in a single row or pile no longer than 10 feet, at the curb by 6 a.m. on your service day.
• Non-compliant piles are skipped by the weekly hauler and collected for an extra charge.

Ask lawn care services and tree service crews whether hauling debris away is in the quote.

What it costs

Augusta quotes vary with lot size, soil, slope and access. These national ranges from our cost guides are a starting point:

• Tree removal: about $385 to $1,070 for most trees, and more for very large or hard-to-reach ones. See tree removal costs.
• Tree trimming: about $430 to $640 per tree on average. See tree trimming costs.
• Lawn care: monthly plans about $100 to $500, mowing about $44 to $71 per visit. See lawn care costs.
• Landscaping: about $4.50 to $17 per square foot. See how much landscaping costs.

Hiring a pro in Augusta

• Get two or three written quotes from landscaping companies, with the scope, materials, debris removal and timeline spelled out.
• For street tree removal, confirm the tree service has the Tree Disturbance Permit and meets the ordinance's insurance and bonding rules before anything is cut.
• For lawn spraying, ask for the company's Georgia pesticide license. The Georgia Department of Agriculture licenses companies paid to apply pesticides on other people's property.
• Before digging, make sure someone contacts Georgia 811 at least three business days ahead. The service is free.