Top-rated landscapers in Macon, GA

Macon sits on Georgia's fall line, where the clay soils of the Piedmont give way to the sandier Coastal Plain. This guide covers soil and grass, the historic districts' rules for trees and fences, yard debris pickup, and what to check before you hire landscapers or a tree service in Macon-Bibb County. For the statewide picture, see the Georgia guide.

Sand, clay and the fall line

The New Georgia Encyclopedia notes that Macon is located where the Ocmulgee River crosses the fall line. South of the line, "sandy soils predominate," while to the north clay soils are the rule. The Encyclopedia's sandhills article describes fall-line sandhills as "nutrient-poor, highly permeable, and extremely low in water-holding capacity." In practice:

• Start with a soil test, which the Bibb County Extension office offers. See lawn soil tests.
• On clay, if water stands after rain, see yard drainage solutions.

Grass for Macon lawns

UGA Extension's bulletin Lawns in Georgia puts the southern boundary for tall fescue at Griffin, though it can hang on in shaded spots further south. The bulletin's notes on warm-season grasses:

• Centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass are best adapted to the middle and lower part of the state. St. Augustinegrass is cold-sensitive and can be slow to recover after an abnormally cold winter.
• Bahiagrass is "well adapted to the sandy soils of mid- to lower Georgia," but UGA says it is best for areas where looks are not a priority.

Trees and fences in the historic districts

Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning's guide to design review districts lists them as Central Business District, Cherokee Heights, Intown, Vineville and Historic Beall's Hill. There, all exterior work except routine maintenance and repair needs a Certificate of Appropriateness (CoA). For yard work, the guide says:

• Pruning trees and shrubs counts as routine landscape maintenance.
• Removing a dead or dying tree still needs a CoA and a statement from an arborist or tree surgeon. Small dead or diseased trees can usually get a staff-level CoA.
• Adding a fence, or changing a fence's style, design or material, requires Design Review Board approval.

The Macon Newsroom reported that a homeowner in one of the districts removed two large trees without the board's sign-off and had to plant replacements. To check if a property is in a district, see the maps linked from mbpz.org or call Planning & Zoning at 478-241-2554.

Fall webworms

The Bibb County Extension office says fall webworms build unsightly webs in tree tops in the fall, and that the fix is to cut down the webs and destroy them. A UGA article on that page names pecan, oak and fruit trees as preferred hosts and says damage to most trees is "usually insignificant." UGA's fall webworm publication adds that spraying a tree of any size should only be attempted by trained professionals. The Bibb office (478-310-5350) also helps identify plant diseases and insects.

Yard debris pickup

Macon-Bibb's yard debris page says Ryland collects yard debris every other week on your garbage day. The guidelines graphic on that page says:

• Leaves and other small debris go in biodegradable bags.
• Piles should be 2 cubic yards or less.
• Branches, sticks, stumps and logs should be cut no more than 4 inches in diameter. Stumps and large logs are not picked up.
• Special pickups cost an additional fee: call the Solid Waste Department at (478) 803-0499.

The county's convenience centers take yard debris free, but no logs or tree stumps, and you'll need a driver's license showing Bibb County residency. Ask the tree service whether hauling stumps and logs is in the quote. See stump grinding costs.

Irrigation and watering

The Macon Water Authority requires all irrigation systems to have an approved backflow prevention device on the customer side of the meter. See backflow testing. Its website posts drought advisories, so check it for current conditions. The statewide watering schedule is in the Georgia guide.

What it costs

Macon quotes vary with lot size, access and how much debris has to be hauled away. 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 Macon

• Get two or three written quotes from landscaping companies, with the scope, materials and timeline spelled out.
• In a design review district, confirm the Certificate of Appropriateness is in hand before tree removal or fence work starts.
• For a new sprinkler system, confirm the quote includes the backflow device the water authority requires.
• 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.