Landscaping

What kind of grass grows best in Atlanta?

During the warm season bermuda and zoysia grows best in the heat so they can handle full sun. During the cool season fescue, clover and rye grows best in the winter. These cooler grasses grow great in shade. Since bermuda is dormant in the fall/winter and loses its green color temporarily you could put down rye in the winter for green grass year-round.

How often should I mow my grass?

We recommend every two weeks. A biweekly schedule is the most popular in Atlanta because if you wait any longer your yard won’t look great and it’s not ideal for your grass health either.  

What’s the difference between sod and grass seed?

Sod is grass seed that has already been grown and has been cut from the root. It is grown and sold in roughly 2 1/2 square feet pieces or it comes in rolls. Grass seed is seed that needs to be germinated so it takes longer to grow and maintain.

How do you choose whether you should use sod or seed?

Depends on your budget and what kind of grass you’d like to grow. Fescue grass can grow with a lot of success. Bermuda takes more patience. Grass seed will come with weeds as weeds are inevitable in Georgia. Sod will come weed free however either way you install it you will have to apply the right kind of weed killer because the weeds will pop up 100% of the time if you don’t.  

Can I just leave my leaves around in the fall?

We don’t recommend this. They can decompose over time but it depends on the quantity. Leaving large amounts (like magnolia leaves) will provide a haven for mosquitos and critters to thrive in. It’s best to attack this head on and stay with a biweekly plan during the fall to remove them.

My yard can’t grow grass. What do you recommend instead?

You could grow plants like hostas, ferns, hydrangeas, cast iron plants or clover.  You could hardscape your yard with rocks, mulch or pine straw, and add in bushes, trees, or an assortment of everything. A design plan will help figure this out.

How much water should I give my new sod?

Water excessively on the first day and then add an inch of water every week. It could rain which changes the schedule so just keep an eye on the forecast. Water every day to every other day for the first 10 days. Install a sprinkler to help. Leave it on a 30-minute timer. Make sure the sod doesn’t get dry or it will burn out and unfortunately it can’t come back from the dead.

What do you recommend for low maintenance yard?

The less plants/trees/bushes you have the less you have to water or prune. Less trees means less leaf cleanup in the fall and winter. Limiting your grass won’t require as much mowing maintenance. If you don’t want to climb up a ladder don’t plant a bush or tree that will want to grow two stories high. Keep bushes or plants away from the house as well so they don’t grow into/around the house. Never plant bamboo or any kind of invasive ivy near your house as they will find ways to grow into your siding. Hardscaping your yard will provide the least maintenance.  

How do I deal with weeds?

Spray with the correct chemicals. Please consulate with a fertilizer company before applying any chemicals otherwise you could kill your grass.  

Is there an organic weed killer?

There is but the cost goes up a lot.

Why are my flowers not blooming?

You could have bad soil, no fertilizer, no sunlight, lack of water, or the plant could be diseased.

How often do I need to water my plants?

This is based on how much the plants have been drinking and if they are potted or in the ground. Some plants like an Agave will require proper drainage. General rule of thumb is to keep an eye on plant leaves to see if they are wilting or have some kind of spots that could indicate disease. You’ll want to check for moisture in the soil with your fingers or using a moister meter. If you have a potted plant, make sure there is a hole at the bottom so the water can drain out.

How do I prune my trees and bushes?

You’ll want to use hedge clippers, loppers, or hand clippers. Some plants require pruning at the node. Certain plants can be clipped a certain way to manipulate the growth like crape myrtles. Holly bushes/boxwoods can be more or less trimmed whenever during the year. Deadheading rose bushes is helpful for proper regrowth. Don’t prune before the first frost. If you do the tree will push out new growth and that will freeze off.

What is reseeding? 

Adding more seed to the grass to help with bare patches or just adding more grass in for a fuller yard. This can be done annually.

How can I grow grass from scratch and what is aeration?

If you’re starting from scratch power rake the yard and make sure its level and even and its sloped so the yard doesn’t run into the house (this could cause drainage issues when it rains). Remove all undecomposed organic matter debris. There should be no roots or leftover grass clippings so you have direct soil to seed contact.  Add top layer of compost and then add seed and/or sod. The following year use aerator to poke holes in the ground. Every square foot of lawn aerator to provides 10 holes. It allows nutrients to get deeper into soil and loosen it up so water can get in more easily. Seeds will also get washed into holes as will the fertilizer. Aeration is popular with fescue but it can be applied to a lot of different grass types. Essentially, it’s adding small holes to your yard which helps new grass seed germinate.  

What is compost and why is it good for a yard?

Compost is soil with broken down organic material that helps your plants and yard grow. Manure or mushrooms are types of compost.

Do you recommend grass seed over sod?

Depends. Fescue seed is great if you have the time to wait for it to grow and you can use your extra saved money to add good compost to the yard. Sod can be recommended for instant gratification if you’re selling your house and need it looking good immediately.

Monoculture vs permaculture yards?

Monoculture is one type of crop or one type of grass (or a small number of variations) to your yard. An example of permaculture is a garden that sustains itself with minimal work. It has a symbiotic relationship with the plants, tress, grass, etc. Pine trees create acidity in soil and certain grass/plants love that in soil. Adding different elements to your yard that work together is a type of permaculture. Mixing in different types of hardscaping and landscaping together can make for a cool permaculture design.

Why is my yard flooding and how do I fix it?

Find source of the problem. Make sure the drainage pipes are big enough to handle a heavy encounter of rain. Grading the land away from house will help. An elevation drop of at least 6 inches 10 feet off the house to keep rain from seeping into your house. Certain trees like sweet bay magnolia like to soak up water. Willow tree or river birch do as well but you’ll want to think about the root system because they stick out of the ground and be tripped on. Banana trees also enjoy a lot of water and will propagate on their own. A dry creek bed might help as well as gutter pipes that will lead water away from the house.

What do I do if I touch poison ivy?

Spray and pull with the appropriate safety gloves on. Wash off with cold water. Hot water will make it worse. Wear long sleeves and pants. Wash all your clothes and anything you may have touched with soap.

Does landscape fabric help control weeds?

It will fail over time but it is a temporarily solution that could last many months.

Should I rake my leaves or mulch them?

Mulched leaves provide free fertilizer for your yard (as long as it gets diced up properly and doesn’t clump in the yard). When it rains the bits will seep into the ground and give your grass a boost.

How do you get rid of Sweetgum balls?

Removing them by hand or with the help of a machine is the only way to deal with sweetgum balls in the fall.

What does regular lawn maintenance services consist of?

“Mow, edge, blow” as it is colloquially mentioned is the most common form. A fuller maintenance program would include things like weed pulling or spraying, hedge trimming, leaf removal, tree pruning.

Do you recommend pine-straw, mulch or rock?

Pine straw is cheapest and covers the most space for the value. Mulch can provide different colors and help prevent weeds. Rock can look great but certain types could be difficult to walk on so do research before picking the right rock for your project.

Do you recommend using leaf bags in Atlanta?

If you have the option to mulch leaves, I would strongly recommend this over bagging. Bagged leaves could sit on your curb for weeks before getting picked up which gives plenty of time for the rain to come and cause the bag to rip from the bottom leaving a mess all over your street.

How do you get rid of kudzu?

Using spray and a grapple claw machine to drag out. It is easier to take out during winter when it’s dormant. Otherwise, it is invasive and will continue to grow during the warm months.

How do you get rid bamboo?

Bamboo is super invasive. If your neighbor has it, it can only be a matter of time before you get it too. To get rid of the bamboo ribosomes, create a concrete or plastic barrier 18 inch deep to block them from traveling.

Is weed killer safe to use?

Weed killer is safe to use around pets as long as it has at least 30 mins to dry out in the sun after application. Certain types of weed killer are not safe to use in or around grass and plants as it may kill anything green it touches if you use the wrong kind. Spot treatment is the easiest way to keep weeds at bay. Don’t apply weed killer in the rain as it will wash away. There are other natural ways to remove weeds such as hand pulling, burning, or adding a thick layer of rock/mulch on top of them.

Do I need a landscape design for my yard?

Landscape designs will help you see what your project could look like beforehand. Hiring someone proficient in horticulture will ensure you are maximizing your yards potential. If you already know what you want a landscape design won’t do much good as they typically run around a few hundred dollars.  

Is it dangerous if ivy grows on trees?

Ivy growing on trees is extremely dangerous for your tree’s health and your home. Ivy will strangle a tree making it more susceptible to falling over in storms. Severing the ivy at the bottom of the tree will kill off the remaining ivy that is growing on it after a month’s time. This is helpful but the ivy will remain on the tree which isn’t ideal so preventative maintenance is your best bet.

Are retaining walls helpful?

Retaining walls can be necessary for drainage, proper leveling or just a nice landscaping tier for planting. A retaining wall is something that will keep the earth from sliding down on one side so it could be held up by wood, brick, stone, concrete, cinder block, natural borders like rock or even stucco. Whatever your wall is made out of it will need proper drainage to go with it so it will last longer over time.

Is Grantlanta Lawn hiring?

Yes! Please fill out an application on our website here.

What areas does Grantlanta Lawn service?

We service almost all of Atlanta including the following neighborhoods

·      Adair Park

·      Ansley Park

·      Atlantic Station

·      Beltline

·      Berkeley Park

·      Blandtown

·      Brookhaven

·      Brookwood Hills

·      Buckhead

·      Cabbagetown

·      Candler Park

·      Cascade Heights

·      Castleberry Hill

·      Centennial Hill district

·      Chastain Park

·      Collier Hills

·      Decatur

·      Dekalb

·      Druid Hills

·      East Atlanta

·      East Lake

·      Edgewood

·      Emory

·      Five Points district

·      Garden Hills

·      Georgia Tech and Technology Square

·      Grant Park

·      Home Park

·      Hotel District

·      Inman Park

·      Kirkwood

·      Knight Park/Howell Station

·      La Vista Park

·      Lake Claire

·      Lakewood Heights

·      Lindridge/Martin-Manor

·      Loring Heights

·      Luckie Marietta district

·      Marietta Street Artery

·      Mechanicsville

·      Midtown

·      Morningside/Lenox Park

·      Mt Paran/Northside

·      North Buckhead

·      Oakland City

·      Old Fourth Ward

·      Ormewood Park

·      Peachtree Battle

·      Peachtree Center

·      Peachtree Hills

·      Peachtree Park

·      Peoplestown

·      Piedmont Heights

·      Pittsburg

·      Poncey Highland

·      Reynoldstown

·      Sherwood Forest

·      SoNo

·      South Atlanta

·      South Downtown

·      Summerhill

·      Toco Hills

·      Tuxedo Park

·      Virginia Highland

·      West End

·      West Paces Ferry/Northside