What’s a fair hourly rate for landscapers in Georgia?

For 2026, $50–$95 per worker-hour is typical. Many companies price per job, but the effective rate lands in that band. Atlanta/Decatur skew higher; Augusta, Macon, and Columbus tend to be mid-range. Always ask what’s included: disposal, edging, fuel, and travel.

How much does sod installation cost in Georgia?

Installed sod runs $1.25–$2.50 per sq ft depending on grass (Bermuda is cheaper, Zoysia higher), access, grading, and irrigation tweaks. A 500 sq ft pallet costs $260–$340 for materials alone. Spring and fall installs reduce watering and replacement risk.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall or tree removal in Atlanta?

Retaining walls over 4 feet typically require engineered plans and permits. Atlanta’s tree ordinance often requires permits and recompense for removing larger, healthy trees. Check with the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings and your HOA before scheduling work.

What’s the monthly price for lawn care in Georgia?

For a typical 1/4-acre Georgia lawn, expect $150–$300 per month for mowing, edging, and blow-off. Add-ons like aeration, pre-emergent, and seasonal clean-ups are extra. Package pricing often beats à la carte. See our guide: Monthly Lawn Care Cost.

Is pine straw or hardwood mulch cheaper in Georgia?

Pine straw usually wins on price and speed: $10–$16 per bale installed. Hardwood mulch installed runs $45–$65 per cubic yard. Straw is lighter and faster to spread, but needs more frequent refreshes than hardwood.

Landscaper Cost Georgia: Real 2026 Prices, What to Expect

What does landscaping really cost in Georgia?

If you live in Georgia, here’s the no-fluff answer: you’ll see $50–$95 per worker-hour, mowing at $40–$70 per 1/4 acre, mulch at $45–$65 per cubic yard installed, sod at $1.25–$2.50 per square foot installed, and irrigation systems at $2,500–$7,500 depending on zone count. Atlanta tends to run 10–20% higher than Augusta, Macon, or Columbus.

We’ve hired (and fired) crews in metro Atlanta and coastal Georgia—these are the real price bands we keep seeing in 2026.

Georgia landscaper cost breakdown (2026)

Design + consult: $150–$300 for a site walk; full residential plan $1,000–$3,500. For when to bring in design vs. build, see Should I Hire a Landscape Designer?.
Hourly/crew rates: $50–$95 per worker-hour. Two-person maintenance crews commonly price by the job; the effective blended rate matches this. Deep dive: How Much Do Landscapers Charge per Hour.
Mowing (typ. 1/4 acre): $40–$70 per cut; weekly/biweekly packages $150–$300/month. More detail: Monthly Lawn Care Cost.
Clean-up/bed refresh: $250–$600 per visit; add disposal fees for heavy debris.
Mulch: $45–$65 per cubic yard installed (triple-shred hardwood); pine straw $10–$16 per bale installed (longleaf usually runs higher).
Sod (Bermuda, Zoysia, Fescue): Materials $0.35–$0.80/sq ft; installed $1.25–$2.50/sq ft. A 500 sq ft pallet in GA is often $260–$340.
Planting: 3-gal shrubs $35–$85 installed; 15-gal trees $300–$700 installed. Larger trees escalate fast—plus Atlanta tree rules (below).
Irrigation: 4 zones $2,500–$4,500; 6–8 zones $4,500–$7,500 incl. backflow, controller, and permits where required.
Drainage: French drain $35–$55 per linear foot; downspout extensions $200–$450 each.
Hardscape: Paver patios $18–$35/sq ft; retaining walls $28–$60/sq ft face (over 4 ft needs engineering/permits).
Aeration (Bermuda/Fescue): $60–$140 for typical GA yards. Compare options: Lawn Aeration Service Cost.

What drives price in Georgia: climate, soil, and access

Heat + humidity: Summer installs need more labor for watering/establishment; plan early spring/fall to save.
Red clay: Grading and drainage often add $500–$2,500 you didn’t plan for. French drains are common in Atlanta’s clay heavy lots.
Pine straw economy: It’s cheap, fast, and Southern. Expect $10–$16/bale installed versus $45–$65/yard for hardwood mulch.
Coastal salt and sand: In Savannah/Brunswick, salt-tolerant plant palettes and irrigation tweaks can add 5–10%.
Slopes in North Georgia: Access and erosion control can tack on $500–$3,000 for retaining, geogrid, or blankets.

City-by-city prices in Georgia (what we see)

Atlanta/Decatur/Roswell: +10–20% across the board. Demand, traffic, and permitting drive it.
Savannah/Pooler/Richmond Hill: +5–15%, especially for irrigation and salt-tolerant plants.
Athens, Augusta, Macon, Columbus: Baseline GA pricing. Good competition keeps bids tight.
North Georgia mountains: Baseline for simple maintenance; +10–30% on hardscapes due to access/slope.

Georgia rules that affect your landscaping bill

Watering rules: Statewide, outdoor watering for landscape purposes is allowed any day before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.; drought declarations can add restrictions (Georgia EPD). Builders may schedule temp watering for new installs. (https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection/water-conservation/outdoor-water-use)
Retaining walls: Over 4 feet of exposed height typically require engineered plans and a permit per Georgia’s state minimum standard codes. Check your city/county first. (https://dca.georgia.gov/state-building-codes)
Atlanta tree ordinance: Removing living trees over certain diameters usually requires a permit and recompense/planting. Budget permit/inspection fees and potential replacements. Start here: City of Atlanta’s Office of Buildings/Urban Ecology pages. (https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/city-planning/office-of-buildings)

By the numbers (sources)

Labor benchmark: Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in Georgia average roughly the mid–$16s per hour in wages, which maps to homeowner rates of $50–$95 per worker-hour after overhead, equipment, and profit. (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ga.htm)
Water stewardship: Georgia allows landscape watering any day before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.; local drought rules can tighten that window. (https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection/water-conservation/outdoor-water-use)

Real Georgia-friendly products (DIY vs pro)

Bermuda sod (Tifway 419) pallet, ~500 sq ft: $260–$340 from GA suppliers like NG Turf; installed by pros: $1.25–$2.00/sq ft.
Pine straw (longleaf) bales: $6–$8 retail; installed by a crew: $10–$16/bale.
Rain Bird ESP-TM2 6-zone controller: ~$119; 8-zone: ~$139. Pro install adds $150–$300 including programming.
Pennington Smart Seed Tall Fescue 20 lb: ~$58 at Home Depot; overseeding labor adds $0.12–$0.25/sq ft.
NDS 4" EZ-Drain 50 ft bundle: ~$155; pro French drain with gravel-free system still prices at $35–$55/lf after trenching and tie-ins.

Who to call in Georgia (and how to compare bids)

Get 2–3 quotes from established Georgia firms. In metro ATL, start with Gibbs Landscape Company, Plants Creative Landscapes, or Michaelangelo’s Sustainable Landscape & Design Group. In Augusta and Savannah, look for multi-crew providers (The Grounds Guys, BrightView residential divisions) for faster scheduling. We don’t endorse; we compare.

To make quotes apples-to-apples, spec plant sizes, counts, mulches (pine straw vs hardwood), irrigation zones, and controller models. Use our checklist: 14 Key Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring and hiring lens: What to Look For in Landscaping Near Me.