SUNBELT LANDSCAPE & NURSERY

It was excellent service. They did a great job and conscientious. Brandon was very timely and his guys were very good and trustworthy.

Postponed arrival day & time multiple times
took 3 weeks instead of 1 week
never completed full scope of work 
would not return calls

MADE THE MISTAKE OF PAYING FOR THE SERVICES UP FRONT. IT TOOK AN EXTENSIVE TIME TO COMPLETE AND THE EVENTUAL THREAT OF REPORTING THE CONTRACTOR TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BURAEU BEFORE THE CONTRACTOR FINISHED THE WORK. ALTHOUGH THE WORK WAS NOT TIMELY OR COMPLETED IN A PROFESSIONAL AND COMPETENT MANNER WE HAD MADE THE MISTAKE OF PAYING FOR THE SERVICES BEFORE THEY WERE COMPLETED. RECOURSE OPTIONS WERE LIMITED.

ON THE POSITIVE SIDE THE THE FINAL PRODUCT WAS WELL DONE AND ADDED TO THE APPEARANCE OF THE PROPERTY..

Brandon Steiner was prompt and responsive the day of our appointment in Feb 2011. I was new to New Mexico and a relatively new widow who knew nothing about gardening in this area. We walked around the yard as I explained that I did not want a Spanish style garden and I wanted something that was low maintenance yet colorful due to my lack of knowledge and the high temperatures during the summer months. I was very explicit  about not wanting any rock so it would be easier to rake around the yard. I also showed Mr Steiner a tree that had become uprooted and was falling over. I know nothing about trees other than when they appear to be dying. He said the tree would come back and they would just anchor it back upright. Naivety lead me to believe him. I had also said I wanted a freestanding pergola built over the patio to cool it down in the summer and the concrete restained all one color. I live in a cookie cutter ranch style home neighborhood and tend toward a Zen like garden I felt would fit in better with the neighborhood. Through the conversation, Brandon documented my wants and I felt he understood what I wanted. When he returned with the design and pricing I was pleased with both and agreed to hire the company.
The design reflected bamboo plants along the east wall and two design wall features. There were grasses and flowers in the design and as well as the placement of a water feature, crusher fine ground cover and a new irrigation system. When Brandon presented the design, I questioned the bamboo plantings since my limited knowledge was that it is a rather invasive plant and spreads easily and can grow quite tall. I did not want to have my beautiful view obstructed.  Brandon assured me that the type he was planting was neither. I also asked how the water feature would work since I was sure it would need electricity and he stated the power would be piggy backed through one of my indoor outlets. Not knowing much about this sort of thing, I trusted he knew what he was doing. Brandon always seemed to have an answer to any of my questions and spoke in an authoritative way so I felt he knew what he was talking about.  The crew showed up when Brandon stated they would and got right to work. The first task the crew worked on was the pergola and made an immediate difference. The decision was that the wood on the pergola didn't need to be sealed because it was redwood and I wanted the natural look of wood. I was not home for all of the work because I was enrolled in classes so I was not able to observe all the work. Upon returning home one day the wall feature that had been installed looked very cheap with a frame and inexpensive lattice covering it. I contacted Brandon and he responded immediately and we came up with a design that matched the pergola. Different issues would arise that I had to contact Brandon and he became increasingly more difficult to reach. Finally, his sister contacted me and said he had several family emergencies and that I should contact her in the future to be sure that my work was going well. With all the issues that were arising, my calls became more frequent since I was unable to communicate with the staff on site; most could not speak English and the one who could would do nothing unless Brandon told him too.  One issue was that I had to research a stain and how to prepare the patio for the new stain. Brandon did not know what to do. I gave him every thing I came up with and who to talk too.
At the end of the project my yard looked very nice. However, the wood on the pergola was water stained because the staff built the pergola before they prepared and restained the patio. That lasted three months. The plants were not growing the way Brandon stated they would, however I allowed that it was a new garden and had to take root. I have gardened successfully in my former state of residence but felt naive regarding the state of things in NM. By Spring of 2012 several of the plants had died and Brandon eventually replaced them but not before several unanswered  phone calls.  I finally left  him a message asking for a estimate to do more work for me. By Fall of 2012 a majority of the plants had died and I noticed the wood on the pergola was not looking very good. There were just a few grasses left. The original tree I had spoken to Brandon about was indeed dead and a second tree and started dying. It  appeared the Brandon really didn't know much about trees.
 
By spring of 2013, I had replaced all but three of the grass plants, replaced the irrigation system, removed the dead trees, had the pergola sealed to protect it and now I have to have my electrical looked at because I no longer have electricity on any of my outside outlets or outside lights. The bamboo plants have started popping up all over the outside edges of my yard and are now siting 15 ft high. The crusher fine that was spread across my yard was done so thinly that with the winds and this years monsoon rains there was very little covering left so I had to replace it this fall.  I have receipts for everything and I have documented everything that has gone on.
My experience with Brandon Steiner and Sunbelt Landscaping has been an expensive one and my issues are still not resolved. I have no doubt that Brandon Steiner will have a different version of what went on but as I have state I documented the process and have receipts for everything I have had to redo sans the electrical.  I take responsibility for my own naivety however, my overall feeling is that Brandon Steiner and Sunbelt Landscaping really does not  know much about landscaping and plants. Based on my experience, I can not in good conscious recommend this business.

better than expected....excellent work for the price

It was a bad experience.  The main problem is that the vendor installed a water feature without first giving me a quote, as I had specifically requested.  The cost was over $750, not including tax.  The finished water feature was not satisfactory.  I requested the vendor removed the whole feature, which was done.  Now I have a large hole in my front yard.  Another problem is that one tree is dying and several plants have died.  I called about the tree and the vendor told me to make sure it gets water and see what it looks like in the spring.  The general impression I get when talking to the landscape vendor is the job is too small -- $,3,775 -- for them to bother with. Overall, I am very disappointed.
I have selected another landscape vendor for the back.  Wow!  What a difference.  This vendor works closely with me and even met me at the nursery to look at trees and plants.  Wish I had used this one in the first place.  Live and learn.

They gave us an onsite estimate, and then performed the fencing and gate work on time.

Good

I bought a 7 yr old home which had never been landscaped and I also needed a fence constructed for my two dogs. I looked at local landscaping companies and reviews on the web and found Sunbelt Landscaping, a family owned company which had been operating since 1985. I arranged a meeting with Mr. Steiner, the owner, at my site, and he was very courteous and professional. We did a lot of our discussion and drawings via email, since I was still living in my old home which was a 100 mile round trip by car to the new site. Mr. Steiner wrote up a very detailed quote which was matched at the end of the project. He provided a long list of references. Mr. Steiner oversaw the entire project, being at the site many times without me, and emailing me progress reports. He even met with the Architectural Committee of the local HOA at the site to discuss the plans, saving me a 100 mile round trip. His workers did a wonderful job on the landscaping. The fence welders were exceptional in design and construction and also being very nice guys. Everthing turned out beautifully, and even though I requested a change in the scope of the fencing, this request was promptly met. Mr. Steiner went out of his way to help me in many instances. The project took months to complete, and I am very pleased with the results. I would recommend Mr. Steiner and Sunbelt Nursery highly.