Landscaping services in Southwood, FL have to clear two hurdles most Tallahassee yards never face: a POA architectural review and clay soil that holds water after every summer storm. We schedule around both, and we put the review timeline in writing before anyone breaks ground. Here is exactly what we do, what it costs, and how approvals fit the calendar.
Landscaping Services We Provide in Southwood
One contractor covers recurring maintenance, installation, hardscape and site work across Southwood) and the east-side corridor. Residential work runs on a visit schedule. Commercial accounts run on a written contract with defined service windows.
Lawn Care and Mowing
A single visit covers mowing, string trimming, edging along drives, walks and bed lines, then blowing off every hard surface.
Weekly service makes sense from roughly April through October here. Growth slows in fall, and most lawns drop to every other week.
Height of cut is where most Southwood lawns go wrong. Scalping a St. Augustine lawn to "make it last two weeks" shortens the roots right before the hottest part of the year.
| Turfgrass | UF/IFAS mowing height | Common in Southwood |
|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine (standard cultivars) | 3.5 to 4 inches | Full sun front lawns |
| St. Augustine (dwarf cultivars) | 2 to 2.5 inches | Shaded side yards |
| Centipede | 1.5 to 2.5 inches | Lower input lawns |
| Zoysia | 1.5 to 2.5 inches, cultivar dependent | Mixed sun and shade |
UF/IFAS puts standard St. Augustinegrass at 3.5 to 4 inches, centipedegrass at 1.5 to 2.5 inches, and zoysiagrass at 1.5 to 2.5 inches depending on cultivar , and the same guidance says to mow often enough that no more than a third of the blade height comes off per cut . See the full UF/IFAS mowing guidance for Florida lawns if you want the science behind the numbers.
Our crews set deck heights by grass type on the route sheet, not by property. Details on lawn and landscape maintenance.
Landscape Maintenance
Maintenance keeps the front yard consistent between POA walk-throughs.
That means shrub trimming and hedge shaping, bed weeding, selective weed control, mulch refresh, scheduled fertilization rounds and seasonal color swaps.
Pruning is timed to the plant, not the calendar. Azaleas get cut after bloom. Crape myrtles get structural pruning in late winter.
Landscape Installation and Sod
New beds start with layout, soil prep and plant spacing sized to mature width, not to how the bed looks the day we leave.
For turf we handle full replacement or patch work: grade correction, amendment, laying new sod, then a two to three week watering schedule to root it.
Palmetto and Floratam are the usual calls in sun. Empire zoysia handles mixed light better. Start with landscape installation or landscape design if the layout is changing.
Hardscape
Paver patios, walkways, retaining walls, fire pits and driveway extensions live or die on base prep and drainage integration, not on the paver you pick.
Visible hardscape is also the work most likely to trigger POA review, so the approval window goes into the schedule up front.
- Paver installation for patios, walks and driveway extensions
- Retaining wall construction for grade changes and bed terracing
- Hardscape design when the plan needs drawings for the review packet
For a deeper walkthrough of materials and build sequence, read our guide to hardscaping in Tallahassee.
Drainage, Grading and Excavation
Standing water, soggy turf, runoff against the foundation and eroded beds each point to a different fix.
We regrade, install French drains and catch basins, extend downspouts, cut swales and handle small excavation.
Clay heavy soil plus a two inch afternoon downpour makes this a repeat call in this neighborhood. Larger soil disturbance is regulated locally: Leon County's Development Support and Environmental Management division issues environmental management permits covering stormwater, floodplain, landscaping and tree work . Check the county's environmental permit requirements before a big regrade.
Service pages: drainage solutions, excavation and grading, site preparation and land clearing.
Irrigation Repair
We diagnose zone by zone: broken or misaligned heads, failed valves and solenoids, line leaks, controller programming and rain sensor checks.
A leak nobody notices, or a July schedule still running in January, shows up fast on the water bill. EPA WaterSense reports that residential outdoor water use nationally runs close to 8 billion gallons a day, mostly landscape irrigation, and the average household uses more water outdoors than for showering and laundry combined . Their outdoor water use guidance is worth five minutes before you reprogram a controller.
Larger systems fall under commercial irrigation.
Cleanups and Pressure Washing
One time and seasonal yard cleanup: leaf and pine straw removal, storm debris haul off, overgrown lot resets and pre listing tidy ups.
We also pressure wash driveways, walks, patios and fencing. Post storm response is one of our most common Southwood calls.
Commercial Grounds Maintenance
Commercial work runs on contract: fixed schedules, before hours service windows, licensed chemical weed control and a certificate of insurance on file before the first visit.
We maintain office parks, common areas and amenity grounds across east Tallahassee. See commercial landscape or residential landscape for scope details.
What Landscaping Costs in Southwood, FL
These are the ranges we quote most often on Southwood properties in 2026. Your written estimate is based on measurement, not on this table.
| Work | Typical range | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring mow, trim, edge, blow | $45 to $75 per visit | Lot size, gate width, bed count, slope |
| Crew hour, two to three people | $50 to $90 per crew hour | Equipment on site, disposal fees |
| One time cleanup | Quoted by volume | Debris haul off and dump fees |
| Sod replacement | Quoted per square foot | Grading, amendment, access for pallets |
| Paver patio | Quoted per square foot | Base depth, drainage tie in, wall work |
| Drainage correction | Quoted per project | Linear feet, outfall location, hand digging |
Two pricing rules hold almost every time here. Recurring accounts price below one time work, and weekly service costs less per visit than monthly because the crew is never fighting overgrowth.
How POA Review Changes the Schedule
Working inside a deed restricted neighborhood changes the job more than most homeowners expect.
In the Southwood planned community, visible changes such as bed reshaping, tree removal, hardscape and fence line planting generally expect architectural review first.
We handle measurements, plant lists and drawings. The homeowner submits the packet.
Here is how we sequence it:
- On site measure and photos, usually 20 to 30 minutes.
- Drawings and plant list prepared for the submittal packet.
- Homeowner submits, review clears, then we schedule materials.
- Build phases are staged so the crew is never parked on a narrow street waiting.
That last step came out of a Bobbin Mill Loop patio we split into two phases while approval cleared. Base work and drainage went in first, pavers followed after the letter came back, and the street stayed passable the whole time.
Plant selection matters for the same reason. Shade tolerant beds under the canopy and sun tolerant turf out front cut the input load and keep the yard inside POA appearance standards without weekly babysitting. The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles are a useful reference for plant right, place right decisions in this climate.
Local Crew, Consistent Route
The owner is on job sites weekly. Crew leads are named, routes stay consistent, and you see the same faces.
We are licensed and insured in Florida, and chemical applications are performed under a certified applicator.
Missed weeks and unreturned calls are the loudest complaint in this market. Our office answers during business hours and returns voicemails the same day. If rain pushes your visit, you get a text before the day you expected us, not after.
We also serve Tallahassee, Leon County, Betton Hills, Centerville, Golden Eagle, Woodville and Havana.
Recent Southwood Work
Patio installs, full sod replacements, backyard regrading, bed rebuilds and retaining walls, all photographed on site. Browse the project gallery, or see the full service list on our home page.
Free On-Site Estimate
The visit takes 20 to 30 minutes. We walk the property, measure, flag drainage problems and talk through any POA constraints.
A written quote follows within two business days, with no obligation and no pressure to sign on the spot.
Get a free estimate or call the office during business hours.
FAQ
What is the going rate for landscaping per hour?
Most Tallahassee area crews charge roughly $50 to $90 per crew hour, or about $45 to $65 per person per hour. Heavy equipment, licensed chemical application and dump fees push it higher.
Is $100 an hour too much for landscape work?
For routine maintenance by one person, yes. For a two or three person crew, or for hardscape, grading and equipment heavy work, that rate is normal in Leon County. Ask whether the quote is hourly or a flat per visit price, and what disposal is included.
What is the average cost of lawn service in Florida?
A typical Southwood lot runs about $45 to $75 per mowing visit, which tracks with statewide averages. Lot size, slope, gate access, bed count and whether edging and blowing are bundled all move the price.
Do I need POA approval for landscaping in Southwood?
For visible changes, usually yes. Bed reshaping, tree removal, hardscape and fence line planting generally require architectural review before work starts. Routine mowing, trimming and mulch refresh do not.
How often should I mow in Tallahassee?
Weekly from roughly April through October, then every other week as growth slows. UF/IFAS notes that in north Florida, grass may not need mowing at all during winter months depending on conditions and species .
When is the best time to lay sod in Southwood?
Spring through early fall, when soil is warm enough for fast rooting. Sod can go down in winter here, but rooting is slow and the watering window is harder to manage.
Do landscapers in Florida need a license?
Florida does not issue a single statewide landscaping contractor license, but fertilizer and pesticide application requires state certification, and local business licensing applies. Always confirm insurance coverage and a certified applicator before chemical work.
Does a drainage project need a permit in Leon County?
Small downspout extensions and yard drains generally do not. Larger soil disturbance, stormwater work and tree removal fall under Leon County's environmental management permitting through the DSEM Division of Environmental Services . We flag it during the estimate if your scope crosses that line.
