Top-rated landscapers in Columbus, GA

Columbus sits where the Chattahoochee River crosses Georgia's fall line, so the soil under a yard here can be clay, sand or a mix of both. This guide covers the local planting zone, soil and grass, city trees and yard waste rules, and what to check before you hire landscapers or a tree service. For the statewide picture, see the Georgia guide.

Planting zone

On the USDA's updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Columbus moved into zone 8b, meaning its average coldest winter low has been 15 to 20°F, WRBL reported. On the previous map it was zone 8a, with lows of 10 to 15°F. Check your exact zone by ZIP code on the USDA map.

Clay, sand and the fall line

The New Georgia Encyclopedia describes the fall line as a boundary about twenty miles wide running from Columbus to Augusta, and notes that the city was established where the Chattahoochee crosses it. Sandy soils predominate south of the line, and clay soils are the rule to the north.

Sandhills are also found on the fall line. Their dune soils are 95 percent quartz sand, nutrient-poor and "extremely low in water-holding capacity," according to the Encyclopedia's sandhills article. In practice:

• Test before you plant. The Muscogee County Extension office, a department of Columbus Consolidated Government, offers soil tests through UGA labs, plus disease and insect identification. It's at 1111 1st Avenue (706-225-4200).
• On sandy ground, which holds little water, compare drip irrigation and sprinklers before planting beds.
• On clay, if water stands after rain, see yard drainage solutions.

Grass for Columbus lawns

UGA Extension's lawn grass bulletin says tall fescue "is best adapted to Georgia's Piedmont Region," with a southern boundary around Griffin, though it turns up in shaded or protected spots further south. For sandier Columbus yards, two notes from the same bulletin matter:

• St. Augustinegrass needs the upper end of UGA's nitrogen range in southern regions, where the season is longer and soils are more sandy.
• Bahiagrass is well adapted to the sandy soils of mid to lower Georgia and tolerates drought and nematodes, but UGA lists drawbacks: an open canopy, unsightly seedheads and a light green color.

The full comparison of bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass is in the Georgia guide. For timing, see when to fertilize your lawn.

City trees and the right-of-way

Columbus's tree rules are in Article 6 of Chapter 4 of its Unified Development Ordinance, Tree Preservation and Replacement. If you're building a new home or a tree stands on city land, ask the city before anything is cut.

Public Works' Urban Forestry & Right-of-Way Division removes city trees only when they are damaged to the point of being a danger, plants trees from January through April, and clears tree debris from roads after storms. Planting requests go through 311. Not sure a tree on your own lot needs to come down? See how to tell if a tree is dying.

Yard waste and tree debris

Under the city's collection rules:

• Limbs must be no longer than four feet and no wider than six inches in diameter, or they won't be collected.
• Bulk yard waste and large piles need a 311 request.
• A cut-down tree isn't part of normal collection. The city's "Tree for Fee" pickup (706-225-4661) costs $50 per load plus a $76.50 tipping fee per ton.
• City Ordinance 13-167.2(8) requires landscape gardening firms and clearing, grading and building contractors to remove the waste their work creates.

What it costs

Columbus quotes vary with lot size, soil 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 Columbus

• Get two or three written quotes from landscaping companies with the scope, materials and timeline spelled out, and confirm the crew hauls away its own debris, as the city ordinance requires.
• For tree work near the street, ask the tree service whether the tree stands on city right-of-way, and call 311 before any work on a city tree.
• For lawn spraying, ask lawn care services for their 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.