Planting & Sod in Sandy Springs, GA

Planting & Sod for Sandy Springs Homes

Most planting jobs in Sandy Springs start with the soil. Piedmont red clay compacts under construction traffic and recovers poorly, which is why yards around new homes in Mount Vernon Woods, Riverside and North Springs often struggle. Installers loosen the ground and work in compost so roots can spread and water can soak in instead of running off. Beds are often raised slightly so shrubs that dislike wet clay stay healthy.

Choosing grass depends on sun. Sunny lawns do well with Bermudagrass or zoysia, best sodded from May through August, and sod should not go over a recent pre-emergent. Shaded wooded lots suit tall fescue, which is best seeded from September to early October. On deep shade or steep clay slopes, groundcovers and shade beds often beat turf. For shrubs and trees, good choices include oakleaf hydrangea, native azaleas, inkberry holly, Virginia sweetspire, loropetalum, camellias, redbud and dogwood with afternoon shade. Cryptomeria and Green Giant arborvitae make strong privacy screens, while Leyland cypress tends to struggle in the heat.

Timing and water finish the job. Fall is a strong season for trees and shrubs, while warm-season sod goes in during summer. Under the state watering rule, new plants and sod can be watered at any hour during installation and for 30 days after, while established landscapes are watered between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. Deer browse hostas, azaleas and daylilies near the river, so plant lists account for them. Call to plan your planting.