What do landscapers cost per hour in Georgia?

Most Georgia landscapers bill $45–$85 per man-hour for maintenance and light installs. Specialist work (irrigation troubleshooting, stonework leads) runs $90–$140/hr. Expect trip minimums of $75–$150, and slightly higher rates in Metro Atlanta versus mid-size cities like Macon or Augusta.

How much is monthly lawn care in Georgia for a 1/4-acre yard?

Plan on $120–$260 per month in Metro Atlanta for mow/edge/blow with light pruning. Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, and Athens often land $100–$220. Add-on items—core aeration, seasonal pine straw or mulch, and shrub detail—raise the total during peak months.

Do landscapers need a license in Georgia?

There’s no statewide “landscaper” license. However, businesses applying pesticides must hold a Georgia Commercial Pesticide Applicator license. Irrigation systems need a testable backflow device with annual testing, and local business licenses and insurance are standard. Check city/county requirements before work starts.

What’s cheaper in Georgia—pine straw or mulch?

Pine straw is usually cheaper up front: $8–$12 per bale installed (35–45 sq ft coverage). Hardwood mulch installed often runs $55–$95 per cubic yard. Straw needs refreshing more often but stretches budgets and looks right at home across much of Georgia.

How much does sod installation cost in Georgia?

Installed sod typically runs $1.50–$3.50 per square foot. Bermuda (e.g., TifTuf) is on the lower end; Zoysia (e.g., Zeon) runs higher. Pallets from suppliers like Super-Sod cost ~$175–$260 (Bermuda) and $290–$400 (Zoysia) before labor, soil prep, and haul-away.

Landscaper Cost Georgia: 2026 Prices, What to Expect

If you live in Georgia, landscaper pricing shifts with heat, humidity, and red clay reality. We’ve hired crews in Atlanta and Savannah; here’s what you’ll actually pay in 2026—and how to keep it sane.

Average Landscaper Cost in Georgia (2026)

Hourly rates: $45–$85 per billed man-hour for maintenance and light installs; $90–$140/hr for licensed specialists (irrigation techs, hardscape leads). See our broader guide on hours in How Much Do Landscapers Charge per Hour.
Trip minimums: $75–$150 per visit, common outside Metro Atlanta.
Monthly lawn care (mow/edge/blow + light trim) on a typical 1/4-acre Georgia lot: $120–$260 in Metro ATL/Alpharetta; $100–$220 in Augusta, Macon, Columbus.
Landscape design fees in Georgia: $500–$2,500 for residential concept plans; full construction sets $2,500–$7,500+ on larger builds.

Georgia-Specific Factors That Move Your Price

Heat + humidity: More rapid growth April–October means more visits in Georgia and higher seasonal costs.
Pine straw vs mulch: Straw is cheaper up-front and common statewide; hardwood mulch costs more but lasts longer.
Red clay + slopes: Excavation, drainage, and retaining needs can add thousands in North Georgia.
Watering rules: Irrigation operation and backflow testing affect annual costs (details below).
Plant palette: Zone-appropriate choices (azaleas, camellias, loropetalum, zoysia/bermuda/fescue) reduce replacement costs.

Typical Project Prices in Georgia

Pine straw install: $8–$12 per longleaf bale installed (covers ~35–45 sq ft at 2–3 inches). Material-only bales in Metro ATL: $5–$7.
Mulch install: $55–$95 per cubic yard installed; material-only $30–$45/yd. Color-dyed runs higher.
Sod installed (material + prep):
- TifTuf Bermuda: $1.50–$2.75/sq ft.
- Zeon Zoysia: $2.25–$3.50/sq ft.
- Suppliers like Super-Sod (multiple GA locations) price pallets (450–500 sq ft) roughly $175–$260 for Bermuda and $290–$400 for Zoysia; install adds labor and soil prep.
Core aeration (cool-season fescue, spring for warm-season): $75–$140 for 5,000 sq ft; add overseed/topdress for $120–$350 more. Deep dive: Lawn Aeration Service Cost.
Shrub/hedge pruning: $150–$450 per visit on typical suburban lots.
Cleanups/leaf removal: $150–$400 (flat or $60–$90/man-hour). Coastal GA often needs more storm/debris cleanups.
Irrigation install (6–10 zones): $3,000–$7,500 including backflow, controller, and drip in beds. Upgrades: Rain Bird ESP-TM2 8-zone WiFi controller runs ~$139–$179; Hunter MP Rotator heads $6–$9/nozzle at SiteOne (Atlanta/Savannah locations).
Lighting: $2,000–$6,000 for a 6–18 fixture LED package; add $200–$400/fixture for quality brass.

Permits, Water Rules, and Codes in Georgia

Outdoor watering: Georgia’s non-drought schedule allows daily watering before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.; drought levels can tighten to specific days. Check current status with Georgia EPD (https://epd.georgia.gov/watershed-protection/water-conservation).
Backflow: Most GA water authorities require a testable backflow preventer on irrigation with annual testing ($50–$100). Your landscaper should coordinate this.
Pesticides: If they apply herbicides/insecticides, the business must hold a Georgia Commercial Pesticide Applicator license (verify via GA Dept. of Agriculture).

Stats check for Georgia’s growing context: Most of Georgia sits in USDA Zones 7b–9a (Atlanta ~8a; Savannah 8b–9a), which supports warm-season grasses and evergreen shrubs; average annual precipitation is roughly 50 inches statewide (USDA Zone Map: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov; NOAA Climate Normals: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov).

Real-World Georgia Examples and Local Pros

Metro Atlanta: A 1/3-acre lot in Decatur with pine straw beds, boxwood/loropetalum, and Bermuda lawn: $180/month for biweekly mow/edge/blow + seasonal pruning; spring aeration $120; fall straw refresh $480 (55 bales installed).
Savannah/Coastal: 1/4-acre with St. Augustine or Zoysia, live oak leaf drop, and shell drive: $150–$240/month plus 1–2 storm cleanups at $200–$350 each.
North Georgia slopes (Cumming/Dawsonville): Drainage swales + small block wall: $4,500–$9,000 depending on footage and access.

Names to price-check (no affiliation): Plants Creative Landscapes (Decatur), Gibbs Landscape (Smyrna), Outside Landscape Group (Alpharetta), Chatham Landscape (Savannah), and suppliers like Super-Sod, Pike Nurseries, and SiteOne.

How to Hire Smart in Georgia (No-Nonsense)

Get line-item, per-zone, and per-square-foot pricing where possible. Use our checklist: 14 Key Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring.
Verify GA pesticide license (if they spray), insurance, and backflow testing plan.
Ask how they handle summer surge growth and rain delays. You don’t want skipped weeks in July.
Compare bids apples-to-apples on mowing frequency, edging, pruning cycles, and mulch/straw depth. See What to Look For in Landscaping Near Me.
Decide crew-hours vs flat price. We explain trade-offs in How Much Do Landscapers Charge per Hour and how that rolls into Monthly Lawn Care Cost.

Quick product and material notes we like (Georgia)

Pine straw: Longleaf holds color longer than slash—worth the $1–$2/bale premium.
Controllers: Rain Bird ESP-TM2 or Rachio 3 for simple WiFi control; don’t skip a rain sensor.
Grass picks: TifTuf Bermuda for sun and drought tolerance; Zeon Zoysia for high-end look with moderate shade.

We’ve overseen installs from Athens to Peachtree City. Georgia’s not cheap in summer, but smart scheduling, pine straw where it makes sense, and zone-correct plants will cut your bill without cutting curb appeal.