Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

I had one nice experience with a tree care company last year. Since then, every time I call someone for work to be done, I get crap.

We had a major job one day and although we were assured that unless it was pouring rain and thundering, they were working that day. It was a light misty foggy rain and they didn't show. Called hours after they were supposed to be here and lied about the situation. Came the next day, on a Sunday, an hour early and woke all my neighbors up.

A few weeks ago, I called a landscaper around the block and it took days to get a return call. Each time I had a question or something to add to the quote, I got the runaround and instead of faxing new quotes, they mailed them. Two blocks away. When they did come, their description of work was wrong so we had back and forth phone calls all day about corrections and price changes.

My old tree care company has been nagging me for a spring fertilization, pesticide application, etc. in "hard sell" emails that listed my full name and email address along with about 50 other customers. Bad email etiquette. Not to mention, I DETEST the hard sell and am not the kind of person to spread around any chemicals for just any reason.

Four times I had to tell them that the ONLY thing I wanted was a control chemical for my Birch tree which is infested with Birch Leaf Rollers. I got a lecture, every time. Up till the LAST minute, they kept trying to slip other services in the quote. Two and a half weeks go by, they don't show, and when I questioned them, they said they were required to get my signature on the paperwork before they came. Even though they said the exact opposite - that I could just send a check in after the fact - in an email.

Is it just my bad luck? Have you had similar bad experiences? Is there any company you've dealt with (especially who services Western Suffolk) who has great service, great prices, and isn't chemical or tree-cutter happy?

Share with me.

Message edited 5/16/2009 9:14:04 AM.

Re: Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

I don't know if landscapers necessarily have the suave we would want, but my landscapers now are fine in terms of doing what I want/ask for (although, to be fair, I don't always know what that is, but when I describe it, they're not bad) and I actually am working with a landscaper who is building our retaining wall who I am considering using next year depending on the work they do BECAUSE when I call, they answer and they are friendly and responsive...if you'd like their info., I am 99.9% sure both work in Suffolk...I'm sorry you're going through this and hope it gets better

Re: Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

LOL...sorry, I don't mean to laugh at your situation, but we go through the same thing with our landscaper and we're friendly with him! My DH is constantly up his a$s and busting his balls to make sure things are done correctly. They deal with so many clients that a lot of the time, the things you say go in one ear and out the other OR there's miscommunication (or lack there of) between their own staff. That's why you need everything in writing.


The only service that we've never had issues with is Conserv-A-Tree/Conserv-A-Lawn (tree service and lawn maintenance.) They seem to have their act together...very thorough! I highly recommend them!!!!!!!! They're here when they say they're going to be here, they discuss and explain everything, give detailed information of services done and very professional overall. And we've been very happy with our results.

ETA: you should call Conserv-A-Tree/Conserv-A-Lawn!!! I don't know how their prices compare to others, but it might be worth getting an estimate from them. They're also environmentally friendly!!!

Message edited 5/16/2009 11:47:08 AM.

Re: Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

I do not use a landscaper but we had a wonderful experience with a Tree Company after being screwed over by 3 previous companies.
It was Norse Tree Service and they were absolutely wonderful and reliable!

Re: Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

we have a decent landscaper...

he's quirky, though. he misses the annual contract signing dates.... and has to reschedule.... and never mailed us a billl despite promising to do so monthly... then in sept, when he gets around to doing his accounting, he sends us inaccurate bills

that being said, he ALWAYS comes punctually, and does exactly what he says...

we merely keep track of what day he comes, and pay him accordingly. he never questions it.

Re: Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

We dont use a landscaper on a weekly basis but we have used Lush Lawns for a number of projects and they are great. We were even considering sod in our yard a few years ago and we got a few quotes and he was so honest about it and we didn't end up getting it and didn't end up needing it. Another place was talking it up like it was a perfect solution but LL was quick to point out why we didn't need it and even told us what we could do ourselves with seeding and such, so he made no money there bc we did do it ourselves. But we later used them a number of times bc they were great. We;re in Easter Nassau so they might service W. Suffolk.

Re: Are all lawn & tree care companies sucky?

We are having a good experience with Cherry Creek Landscaping. The guy who owns it, is very thorough, and the day i left a message to get an estimate, he called and came to my house that day.
He wrote up a formal contract etc.
The guys who work for him are very good, my neighbors use them as well.