Lawn care in Atlanta depends on your grass type. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, zoysia and centipede are fertilized in late spring and summer and go dormant in winter. Cool-season tall fescue is fed mainly in fall. A soil test from your county UGA Extension office shows what lime or nutrients your lawn actually needs.
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Lawn care in Atlanta is different from lawn care in the Midwest or Florida. The metro sits in what turf specialists call the transition zone, where both warm-season and cool-season grasses can grow but neither is perfectly at home. The right maintenance schedule depends almost entirely on which grass you have.
Know your grass first
- Bermudagrass: very common in sunny Atlanta lawns. Tough, fast-growing, and drought tolerant, but it needs full sun and goes brown and dormant in winter.
- Zoysiagrass: dense and attractive, with somewhat better shade tolerance than Bermuda. Grows slowly, so it recovers from damage slowly.
- Centipedegrass: a lower-maintenance warm-season grass that prefers acidic soil and light fertilization. Overfeeding it can cause problems.
- St. Augustinegrass: coarse and shade tolerant, but less cold hardy, so it can be damaged in hard Atlanta winters.
- Tall fescue: a cool-season grass that stays green in winter and handles partial shade, but often thins out in summer heat and usually needs reseeding in fall.
Seasonal timing is different for each
Warm-season grasses are fertilized during the growing season, roughly late spring through summer, after they green up. Tall fescue is the opposite: it is fertilized mainly in fall and, to a lesser extent, late winter, and heavy summer feeding can stress it. A lawn company applying a one-size-fits-all program to every yard is a red flag. UGA Cooperative Extension publishes month-by-month maintenance calendars for each major Georgia turfgrass, and they're worth comparing against any program you're quoted.
Mowing basics
- Mow often enough that you remove no more than about one-third of the blade at a time.
- Mowing heights differ by grass. Bermuda and zoysia are typically cut lower; tall fescue and St. Augustine are kept taller.
- Keep blades sharp. Torn grass tips turn brown and invite disease.
- Leave clippings on the lawn when possible; they return nutrients to the soil.
Soil testing beats guessing
Georgia's clay soils are often acidic, and many lawns get lime or fertilizer they don't need. Your county Extension office can process a soil test that reports pH and nutrient levels with specific recommendations for your grass type. A good lawn company will either do this or welcome your results.
Pesticide applications and licensing
Mowing and basic yard maintenance don't require a state license in Georgia. However, companies that apply pesticides, including many herbicides and insecticides, for hire are generally required to be licensed through the Georgia Department of Agriculture's pesticide program. If a lawn program includes weed or insect control, it's reasonable to ask whether the company holds a commercial pesticide applicator license and who on the crew is certified.
What to ask before signing up
- What is included in each visit, and how many visits per year?
- Is the program tailored to my grass type and soil test?
- How much notice do you give before applications, and when is it safe for kids and pets?
- Can I cancel or pause service, and how is billing handled?
Ready for help? Request a lawn care company and tell us your grass type if you know it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best grass for Atlanta?
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.
Does a lawn care company need a license in Georgia?
Mowing and basic maintenance generally don't require a state license. Companies that apply pesticides for hire are generally required to be licensed through the Georgia Department of Agriculture, so ask about licensing if your program includes weed or insect control.
When should I aerate my lawn in Atlanta?
Core aeration is generally done when the grass is actively growing so it can recover: late spring to early summer for warm-season grasses, and fall for tall fescue. Compacted clay lawns often benefit the most.