PRO EARTH LANDSCAPE

The Co-owner Vern Holtz made the initial visit to our property and brought along his landscape assistant Shelby, who would be managing our project.  He gave an overview of how he would re-landscape our property listening to our major concerns.  His visit was quick and he was decisive in his thoughts, noting that any refinements could be worked out with Shelby when the work commenced. Sketches would have been a large additional fee, so they were not done.   His price was in the range of the other landscapers we interviewed.  We choose ProEarth because they seemed willing to use native plants and generate a plan that worked with some of our large plants that would be staying.    We were also happy to be supporting a family-owned local business. 
Several months after the initial visit (we are a 5 unit HOA, so we had to have a ballot vote and give everyone enough time to deposit their share of the funds before going forward), we put down a $1000 deposit as requested, and we asked to meet with Shelby to go over final plans.  This is when we got a glimmer of what was to come.  Shelby arrived in a bad mood and saying that she didn't keep her notes from the first visit.  But she presented her plant list and when we asked for two modifications in plant choices she got very irritated, saying that we had already agreed to what she had chosen.  She then took a phone call from Vern and they proceeded to have a 15 min scream-fest about whether or not she could use a truck that weekend for personal purposes.  After that, she said she was out of time and that she needed to go, but that we could trust her choice in native plants.   Later, after several emails, through which we reiterated our request for "no Birds-of-Paradise", Shelby suggested a tree that is native to southeastern USA, saying that we had similar climates!  Clue #2, sigh.    When I asked by name for a couple more unusual plants, Shelby said they would not be running all over to get specially requested plants. 
The day of planting, we noticed that there were a lot of bougainvillea bushes setting about, which had not been previously discussed, apparently they were trying to plant whatever they could get inexpensively.   We had to ask that they not be planted, since they did not go with the overall plan. 
Our property is near the coast and has a lot of trees.  Approximately, 70% is shaded.   The native plants they planted in the shade have either died or are slowly dying.  It turns out that they were ALL plants that required "Full Sun".  I have since been replacing them with natives that do well in "Part shade".  Thus far, this has cost about $400 dollars, and a lot of my time and effort, and we still have a long way to go to get this straightened away.
Another frustration was that there was no adherence to a project timeline.  Robin Holtz (Vern's wife) runs the office and sweet-talked me into making the final payment after the project was 85% complete.   Huge mistake.   It took 4 more months until they finished.   When we were told that something would happen "this week or next week",  it usually occurred sometime in the next 3-4 weeks, and typically after an extra phone calls from us.   And then they had the nerve to complain that we were difficult to deal with because several of us had to get involved.  If they had just done what they said they were going to do, when they said they were going to do it, there would not have to be all those interactions.
Even the bill was messed up...The plant list on the bill they sent us was so far from what was actually planted that we had to send them a correct list, and point out that they were still short by a dozen plants and a trellis. 
I could go on but, I think you get the picture.
Did anything go well?  Yes.   The Latino crew who did the heavy lifting were very polite and hard working, and did a great job of clearing the old plants and ivy, and their associated root systems.  They then graded the area, and put in the drip irrigation system prior to planting the new plants.     I wish their level of professionalism had extend to upper management and the
landscape designer, who were condescending, yet not nearly as knowledgeable as they needed to be. 
And so, in summary, what should have been a fun and exciting home improvement project turned into a draining hassle. 

First, they came up with a very good design concept and they did a very good job. They did it well and on time. They are just great.

We couldn't be happier with Vern and Pro Earth Landscape.  We had paid several thousand dollars to have an architect draw up plans for our yard, but his plans called for removing all the old concrete, plants etc.  Vern said there was no reason to scrap everything, and he showed us how we could work with what we have, savings us thousands of dollars.  The result I think is much better than how it would have turned out even if we had started from scratch.  We love the way the yard turned out, loved working with Vern (owner) and Pro Earth.  Our yard exceeded our expectations on all levels.

We liked the fact that the design evolved as different parts went in, we were able to make slight changes so that everything came out perfectly.

Can't recommend Pro Earth any more highly.

We recently had a year's worth of redo's in our house, and I'm not sure I could recommend any of the contractors with a strong recommendation, so I am somewhat picky.  I would feel completely comfortable giving Pro Earth my highest recommendation.

I AM PLEASED WITH MY NEW BBQ AND BAR. THE MEN WERE PROFESSIONAL. I WAS IMPRESSED THAT WHEN I HAD A PROBLEM AND CALLED THEM, THEY RESPONDED VERY QUICKLY (WITHIN 1 HOUR). I WOULD HIRE THEM AGAIN.