Landscaping questions, answered

Yes. There's no cost to you to request help. Landscaping companies in our network pay for referrals. You only pay the company you hire, and you're never obligated to hire anyone.

No. We're an independent referral service. We pass your request to an independent, insured landscaping, lawn or hardscape company serving your area, and they contact you directly.

Most companies reach out within a business day or two, and sooner when you mark a drainage or erosion problem as urgent. Spring is the busiest season, so response and scheduling can take longer then.

Georgia doesn't require a general state license for landscaping or lawn maintenance. Companies that apply pesticides for hire are generally required to be licensed through the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and some work, such as certain retaining walls, may need local permits. Ask any company for proof of insurance.

It depends on the project. Fall is generally best for planting trees and shrubs and for seeding fescue. Warm-season sod does best from late spring into summer. Hardscape and drainage work can happen most of the year, and winter is a good time to plan and get on a schedule.

Get written estimates that spell out the scope, materials, plant sizes and quantities, soil prep, cleanup, and any guarantee. Ask for a certificate of insurance and references or photos of similar work. The lowest price often leaves out prep work that determines how long a project lasts.

Yes. Many requests we receive involve standing water, soggy lawns, washouts and eroding slopes. Describe the problem, and if you can, include photos or video taken during or after a heavy rain.

For most residential planting and bed projects, a landscape designer or design-build landscaping company is typical. Licensed landscape architects are more often involved in complex grading, large hardscape, commercial work, or projects that need sealed drawings for permits.

It depends on sun and use. Bermuda suits full sun and heavy traffic, zoysia tolerates some shade, centipede suits low-maintenance yards with acidic soil, and tall fescue handles more shade but often struggles in summer heat.

Often a few weeks in the active growing season, depending on grass type, soil prep and weather. When a gently tugged corner resists lifting, roots are taking hold and you can start watering less often and more deeply.

Often, above a certain height or when the wall supports a driveway, structure or steep slope. Thresholds vary by city and county, so check with your local building department before construction.

A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects subsurface water and carries it to an outlet. It helps when water saturates the soil in one area; surface runoff problems may be better solved with grading or swales.

Under the Georgia Water Stewardship Act, landscape watering is generally limited to early morning and evening hours, with exceptions such as drip irrigation, hand watering and new landscapes. Rules can tighten during drought, so check with the Georgia EPD and your water provider.

Azaleas set next year's flower buds in summer, so they're typically pruned soon after spring bloom. Pruning in late summer or fall can remove next spring's flowers.