Lawn care in Charleston SC takes a little more thought than it does inland. The city sits low, the tide reaches into streets and yards, and many lots are shaded by trees older than the houses. Right Stuff Lawn Care keeps Charleston lawns and beds in shape with the same crew on a set schedule and a text before each visit. We do the work right the first time, which is the whole reason the company exists.
Lawn and landscape conditions in Charleston
The downtown peninsula sits between the Ashley River on the west and the Cooper River on the east, only a few feet above sea level. The city says normal high tides average about 5.5 feet, while king tides can reach 7 feet or more. At that level minor coastal flooding begins. When a storm stacks wind and rain on top of a high tide, low yards can take on brackish water.
Salt is hard on turf. Clemson Extension rates St. Augustine, zoysia and bermuda as fairly salt tolerant and centipede as poor. After saltwater sits on a lawn, Clemson's advice is to rake off debris, rinse the grass, and flush the soil with repeated inch deep waterings. Roughly 6 inches of irrigation removes much of the sodium. Wait until the salt is flushed before you reseed.
Shade is the other big factor. Live oaks and other large trees cover a lot of Charleston yards and courtyards. Clemson rates St. Augustine and zoysia high for shade tolerance, which is why you see so much St. Augustine in older neighborhoods. Where the canopy is too dense for any grass, a well kept bed of pine straw or mulch looks better than thin turf.
The City of Charleston treats any tree 24 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet above grade as a grand tree. On single family and duplex lots, the city's guidance is that trees under that size generally do not need a removal permit, but grand trees do, and larger lots have extra rules. Check with the city before removing a big tree or grading under one.
The city also covers West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island and Daniel Island. Each of those has its own page below, because conditions change a lot from the peninsula to the sea islands.
Services we provide in Charleston
- Lawn mowing sized for small city lots, with careful edging along brick, curbs and walks.
- Fertilization timed to Clemson's coastal calendar and adjusted for shaded turf.
- Tree and shrub care including pruning of crape myrtles, hollies and other ornamentals at the right time of year.
- Landscape maintenance with pine straw, mulch, bed cleanup and seasonal color.
- Sod installation when a lawn is too thin or salt damaged to recover.
For shaded yards, our guide to St. Augustine grass care in Charleston explains mowing height, watering and pests.
Seasonal tips for Charleston yards
- Late winter. Prune crape myrtles in late winter or early spring while they are dormant. Clemson warns against topping, which gardeners call crape murder.
- Mid February. Apply preemergent for summer weeds. Clemson places the first application around mid February in coastal areas.
- After a flood tide. Rinse and flush salt from turf and beds with fresh water as soon as the water recedes.
- Summer. Water early in the morning. Clemson notes large patch spreads fastest when grass blades stay wet for long periods.
- Fall. Skip heavy nitrogen in mid to late fall. It feeds large patch disease more than it feeds warm season grass.
Nearby areas we serve
Across the rivers we also serve West Ashley, James Island, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston.
Frequently asked questions
What grass handles shade in Charleston?
St. Augustine is the most common choice for shaded Charleston yards, and Clemson rates its shade tolerance as excellent. Zoysia also handles partial shade well. Under very dense canopy, even these grasses thin out, and a bed is often the better answer.
My lawn flooded with salt water. Will it come back?
It may. Clemson recommends rinsing the grass, then flushing the soil with about an inch of water at a time until salt levels drop. St. Augustine, zoysia and bermuda tolerate salt better than centipede. If the turf does not recover, we can replace it with new sod once the soil is flushed.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Charleston?
The city protects grand trees, which are 24 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet above grade. Smaller trees on single family lots usually do not need a permit, but rules differ for larger lots and other zoning. Check with the City of Charleston before any removal.