What are my options after poor landscaping work?

[HoneyBadger]

Here's the story:

I had a professional landscaper come and landscape my new house. Most things were done in an acceptable manner, but the sod they gave us was pathetic. I have spent hundreds of dollars watering it and in 2+ months, none of the grass has grown enough to even warrant a mowing. I followed the watering directions that the landscaper supplied exactly, but the grass is not growing, and in some places I can't even tell if it is alive. Every time I've seen sod laid, it is thick and dark green and healthy, but the sod we received from the landscaper was not thick, dark green, or healthy. All the other new homes on my street have healthy sod and ours is pathetic.


I wrote a check to pay the landscaping company when the job was completed about 6 weeks ago, and they told me that the grass would be just fine and not to worry about it.

This is a well known and reputable company that has done hundreds of landscapes in my neighborhood and a lot of landscapes in nicer neighborhoods, such as Cordera, Mountain Shadows, and several areas of Monument and Black Forest. I have a lot of outreach where I could damage their business reputation in my neighborhood and around town, but I'd rather not go that route...



What options do I have?
I don't want to do something rash that would leave me without options, but this is about 1300 sq ft of sod that I paid for and i'm getting pissed.

It's probably too late in the season to lay new sod. I'm also worried that if I wait until spring to say anything or do anything, then I definitely won't have any options apart from buying new sod.

[asmo]

1) write a letter to the company complaining and ask for whatever it is that will make you happy
2) wait
3) see 1

If that doesnt work.. take them to small claims court.

[Brian]

Have you already called and asked the owner to come take a look? Would definitely start there. Sounds like you've been calm so far, and if you keep things reasonable, a good company would take care of you and offer to put in replacement sod in the spring if it's not performing as expected. I would definitely get him out there ASAP however if you're not happy. Approach it as if you know they will take care of you, and stay positive and friendly until you need to be otherwise.

That being said, I've seen bad sod set down that grows like crazy in the spring. You may still be ok.

[Aloha_Shooter]

What Brian said ... try to resolve it amicably with the company first. They may not realize just how bad the sod was -- it could be their supplier had inadvertently let the roots dry out or something they didn't realize. Take pictures now -- and scan your utility bills to show how much water you used -- in case you need documentation of the current condition but definitely get them over to see it before taking any other steps.

[Tim K]

Why worry about extreme solutions when you haven't even called yet? As a business owner, it drives me nuts when customers get all pissed off about something but haven't bothered to tell me about it. It's true that the bad contractors out there have tarnished the reputation of us all. Some people assume that all contractors are shady and not interested in fixing problems. Please don't paint us all with the same brush. There are lots of reputable guys out there who will stand behind their work WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. We aren't mind readers and we don't know customers are having problems until you tell us.

It's possible the guy is a jerk and you will have to go to extra lengths to get your problem fixed, but most businesses don't get big by being rude.

One last thing. You starting out friendly will go a long way towards getting your problem solved quickly and well. Generally speaking, the customers who start out pissed off and antagonistic instantly ratchet up the stress level and make everyone's lives miserable. You'll probably get better service if you at least start out being friendly.

[HoneyBadger]

Approach it as if you know they will take care of you, and stay positive and friendly until you need to be otherwise.
That being said, I've seen bad sod set down that grows like crazy in the spring. You may still be ok.
This sounds like the smart approach that I was looking for. I'm just worried that I'll be out of a bunch of $$$ when spring comes around and the sod is all dead.


What Brian said ... try to resolve it amicably with the company first. They may not realize just how bad the sod was -- it could be their supplier had inadvertently let the roots dry out or something they didn't realize. Take pictures now -- and scan your utility bills to show how much water you used -- in case you need documentation of the current condition but definitely get them over to see it before taking any other steps.
This is kind of what it looks like. I've noticed that a lot of the water I put on the grass runs off very easily. I have digital copies of the utility bills from CSU and periodic pictures of our grass compared to neighbors' grass.

Okay, a little more background: The project manager from the landscaper admitted that the grass looked "pretty anemic" when he did the final walkaround before I wrote the check, but he assured me that it would get better. This was verbal and I have no other record of their acknowledgement. Sorry to get your riled up Tim, but the company SHOULD be aware. Maybe not. I'll call and see if we are even on the same page before I do anything else.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I was getting myself worked up about it while missing the obvious and potentially simple approach. I'll follow up after I call. I have a tendency to get enraged when I feel slighted, so I needed your level heads to keep me from being an idiot. Thanks. [Beer]

[ChunkyMonkey]

Here's the story:

I had a professional landscaper come and landscape my new house. Most things were done in an acceptable manner, but the sod they gave us was pathetic. I have spent hundreds of dollars watering it and in 2+ months, none of the grass has grown enough to even warrant a mowing. I followed the watering directions that the landscaper supplied exactly, but the grass is not growing, and in some places I can't even tell if it is alive. Every time I've seen sod laid, it is thick and dark green and healthy, but the sod we received from the landscaper was not thick, dark green, or healthy. All the other new homes on my street have healthy sod and ours is pathetic.


I wrote a check to pay the landscaping company when the job was completed about 6 weeks ago, and they told me that the grass would be just fine and not to worry about it.

This is a well known and reputable company that has done hundreds of landscapes in my neighborhood and a lot of landscapes in nicer neighborhoods, such as Cordera, Mountain Shadows, and several areas of Monument and Black Forest. I have a lot of outreach where I could damage their business reputation in my neighborhood and around town, but I'd rather not go that route...



What options do I have?
I don't want to do something rash that would leave me without options, but this is about 1300 sq ft of sod that I paid for and i'm getting pissed.

It's probably too late in the season to lay new sod. I'm also worried that if I wait until spring to say anything or do anything, then I definitely won't have any options apart from buying new sod.

6 weeks ago? Wait til next year for the sod to have a chance to grow.

[newracer]

New Sod can still be laid if needed. Most likely they will ask you to wait until next springs though and see if it comes back. Contact them now and let them tell you how they are going to fix it. Document everything in writing.

What does you agreement/contract with them state about warranty?

[StagLefty]

If they come out and say something like they'll replace it in spring if it doesn't improve get it in writing.

[Aloha_Shooter]

If they come out and say something like they'll replace it in spring if it doesn't improve get it in writing.

Or just tell him to Google "Les Fletcher Plano TX" as an example of what happens when someone screws with a CO AR-15 member ... ;-)

[newracer]

Or just tell him to Google "Les Fletcher Plano TX" as an example of what happens when someone screws with a CO AR-15 member ... ;-)

[ROFL1][ROFL3]

[MrPrena]

6 weeks ago? Wait til next year for the sod to have a chance to grow.


+1
Yeah. Fall is a fairly good time to lay a sod, but grass rarely grow during fall. I haven't mow the lawn for over a month, and it is still the same. Just make sure grass doesn't turn yellow/dead.

[funkymonkey1111]

Did you really not think of calling the company before posting this (with your comment about business reputation?)

[MarkCO]

No harm done yet, and you got good advice which it looks like you have accepted. Bravo!

[Lurch]

Has it even taken root, if not then most likely it will not survive the winter. Grass will grow on about anything if you give it enough water.35751

[hatidua]

6 weeks ago? Wait til next year for the sod to have a chance to grow.

+1

The weather over the last six weeks hasn't been all that conducive to grass growth, especially new sod. I have a healthy lawn and have probably mowed it three times in the last two months which is very unusual. It just hasn't been warm enough for things to grow at their normal pace and new sod typically has a tough go of it at first.

[ChuckNorris]

I would not lay new sod right now. After new sod is laid it requires a lot of water for the first two weeks just to get the roots to start setting and with the cold we are gettting, you would have an excellent chance of breaking the backflow preventer even if it is wrapped for protection.
It sounds to me like maybe they didn't use enough, or any, soil prep. The soil should be prepped and rototilled. Usually the amount of prep used is 3 yards per 1000 square feet of sod.
I would get something in writing from them right now that if it doesn't come back, they will replace it, and make sure that the soil has been prepped.
You could also contact the BBB and ALCC (Associated Landscape Contractors Of Colorado), see if they are members of ALCC, most reputable companies are. ALCC is at 800-339-2441 or 303-757-5611.

Good luck!

[Tinelement]

+1

The weather over the last six weeks hasn't been all that conducive to grass growth, especially new sod. I have a healthy lawn and have probably mowed it three times in the last two months which is very unusual. It just hasn't been warm enough for things to grow at their normal pace and new sod typically has a tough go of it at first.

Are you drunk??

I haven't been able to keep up on my lawn. 2 mows a week. Greener than all year, well since May. I have 10,000 sqft on western exposure, and it as green if not greener than spring.

[Gman]

That being said, I've seen bad sod set down that grows like crazy in the spring. You may still be ok.
This^^^ Grass has been going dormant for the last 2 months. It won't improve in color at this point. I'd ping them about the issue now, and if it doesn't come back in the spring, then I'd push them to replace it.

[HoneyBadger]

Did you really not think of calling the company before posting this (with your comment about business reputation?)
Of course I thought of it, but I wasn't confident in my ability to say the right things. That's exactly why I came here for advice. There are a lot of level heads here who I trust would call me out if I was wrong or being an idiot.


Has it even taken root, if not then most likely it will not survive the winter. Grass will grow on about anything if you give it enough water.35751
I think it is having a hard time establishing roots... Most of the water runs off, and I'm spending $200+ each month just on watering the grass... I'm doing everything under my power to promote growth and it just isn't happening.

+1

The weather over the last six weeks hasn't been all that conducive to grass growth, especially new sod. I have a healthy lawn and have probably mowed it three times in the last two months which is very unusual. It just hasn't been warm enough for things to grow at their normal pace and new sod typically has a tough go of it at first.


Apparently our climates are quite different. We've been getting plenty of sun and precipitation over the past 8 weeks, but here's the real obvious tell: all of my neighbors who also just had their landscaping done (its a new neighborhood) have wonderful looking grass.

Are you drunk??

I haven't been able to keep up on my lawn. 2 mows a week. Greener than all year, well since May. I have 10,000 sqft on western exposure, and it as green if not greener than spring.

This is what I see all around me... All of my neighbors are mowing like crazy and I haven't had to mow even once in 2 months.


Thanks for the comments and feedback, everyone.

[Mtn.man]

Yeah ya gotta wait till spring DUH...

[hatidua]

Are you drunk??

Not just yet...

[TRnCO]

I haven't had to mow even once in 2 months Just the way I like my grass.......'cause I hate mowing....

[anaphylaxis]

Why worry about extreme solutions when you haven't even called yet? As a business owner, it drives me nuts when customers get all pissed off about something but haven't bothered to tell me about it. It's true that the bad contractors out there have tarnished the reputation of us all. Some people assume that all contractors are shady and not interested in fixing problems. Please don't paint us all with the same brush. There are lots of reputable guys out there who will stand behind their work WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. We aren't mind readers and we don't know customers are having problems until you tell us.

It's possible the guy is a jerk and you will have to go to extra lengths to get your problem fixed, but most businesses don't get big by being rude.

One last thing. You starting out friendly will go a long way towards getting your problem solved quickly and well. Generally speaking, the customers who start out pissed off and antagonistic instantly ratchet up the stress level and make everyone's lives miserable. You'll probably get better service if you at least start out being friendly.

This. This. This.

I deal with the same thing. A client has an issue, and doesn't let me know about it, until it's an emergency. Then they get pissed off because the problem they didn't tell me about, doesn't get resolved right that second. Really?

Or the other people who go out of their way to act like an ass. Really doesn't help anything, and in fact encourages me to do the absolute minimum to resolve the matter. It's not like I would want to deal with such a client again, so why would I put any extra effort in?

[HoneyBadger]

This. This. This.

I deal with the same thing. A client has an issue, and doesn't let me know about it, until it's an emergency. Then they get pissed off because the problem they didn't tell me about, doesn't get resolved right that second. Really?

Or the other people who go out of their way to act like an ass. Really doesn't help anything, and in fact encourages me to do the absolute minimum to resolve the matter. It's not like I would want to deal with such a client again, so why would I put any extra effort in?

Very good points. Thanks!

[Great-Kazoo]

Very good points. Thanks!

So did you contact them?

[HoneyBadger]

Heard back from them today.

Here is the email I sent last Thursday:

Hi John,

When your crew came back to do the rock cleanup work (which looks great, by the way) it looks like they forgot to clip the sting at the top of the oak in the backyard. Could you send someone out to take care of this?

Also, I have followed the watering directions that All American supplied exactly, but the grass is not growing, and in some places I can't even tell if it is alive. I understand that it is getting late in the season, but I wonder if maybe the roots of the sod dried out before it was laid because it doesn't seem to be soaking up any water. Every time I sprinkle, a substantial amount of water runs off. Our grass looks quite pathetic compared to our neighbors' freshly laid sod. When Spring comes around, I am worried that the grass will be completely dead. I have been taking the proper winter watering steps and will continue to do so as much as possible throughout the winter, but what options do we have if the grass is still dead in the Spring?

As always, you can respond directly to this email, or call my cell phone after 5pm on weekdays.

Thanks,
Dave XXXXXXXXX





And this is the reply I recieved completely ignoring the meat of my email about the grass:


Dave, I will take care of the string this week.

John XXXXXX Residential Project Manager
XXXXXXXX
719.XXX.XXXX

[funkymonkey1111]

so send a response thanking him for his reply on cutting a string for you, but there was more in the email that required his attention

[T-Giv]

so send a response thanking him for his reply on cutting a string for you, but there was more in the email that required his attention

Agreed. He blatantly ignored the meat of your email. I for one can't ignore "the meat" LOL hence why I got my nickname.

[sniper7]

yep, reply back with a thanks for taking care of the one part, and ask again what can be done with the sod

[anaphylaxis]

Heard back from them today.



Yeah, not cool at all.

I'd send back another message asking (in a reasonable manner still) what he plans on doing about the other concern.

[funkymonkey1111]

Honeybadger,

I assume you are documenting the condition of your yard before the freezes come

[Great-Kazoo]

Honeybadger,

I assume you are documenting the condition of your yard before the freezes come

he should also send a registered letter outling his issues AND failure in an e-mail to address the sod.

[10mm-man]

Ok Badger, here is what I would do; call the owner, tell him you gave his project manager plenty of time to rectify the issue, or at least address it. Tell him what you have done, and how patient you have been; ask him how he is going to rectify the issue.

Being a General contractor for over 16 years, I can tell you sometimes the PM or superintendent, don't do the job they were hired to do. Sounds to me like he dropped the ball a few to many times, and there are underlying issues.

Shit rolls down hill so start at the top, and call the owner of the company. Be nice to him, and tell him; you just wish for him to rectify the issue before it progresses into a bigger one. My $.02

[davsel]

^^
Forward the previous email chain to the owner and ask him to address the issue - CC the PM

[sako55]

Have a separate lawn care company out to look at the new turf. Check out ALCC's (associated landscape contractors of Colorado) web site or call them directly for a company in your area. Most evaluations are free but they will try to sell you a program. Get the independent evaluation and contact the landscapes company if the other's findings. If the sod is just tearing back and no roots have taken, it is most likely toast. You can pm me for my e-mail and send me picks and perhaps I can tell. I take care of grass for a livin.

[Bentsight]

OP, try contacting a local Golf Course Superintendent for an evaluation, you will be very hard pressed to find anyone that knows turf better and they have nothing to loose/gain by giving an honest informed opinion.