Southwood Landscape & Garden Center

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All went well.  The workers did well cleaning out the flower beds, planting flowers and fertilizing.  Each season I e-mail Tena at Southwood and tell her what I want and they take care of the rest.  The only complaint I have is I would prefer they call before they come.  The cost is a little pricey, but it's worth having everything planted correctly.  I, also, have pots on the patio that they put the plants in for me.  They, also, replanted a pot of flowers that had fallen over in the car at no charge. All of their plants are quality.

Background:  Because it was April when we requested the work, it seems Southwood was super busy.  They gave us a landscape designer that they had just hired.  As a matter of fact they mentioned that he was coming and told us when his start date would be.  I hoped that because Southwood has been in the area for many years that they would do excellent work.  I told them I was concerned that this designer was new and unproven to them, but they assured me he would do a good job.  They gave me no other options and I was still trusting their longstanding in the community.  I also found out as we went along that they also did not have an experienced work crew available and hired a crew to do my plantings. By the time we got an install date (6/2) the temps had hit the 90's and it would be an extremely hot summer. 

Completed work: I was not happy at all with the work that was done.  I did not feel that the designer listened to me and brought plants that I specifically said I did not want.  In particular, he kept insisting on planting a white (Natchez) crepe myrtle. I told him I really wanted color, specifically red.  The day of the install he brought a beautifully shaped white Natchez crepe myrtle.  Not happy!  The predominant color I had asked for was red (crepe myrtle, azaleas, etc.).  They showed up with pinks and whites. I had also talked to them about the placement of the boulders in the flowerbeds and how I wanted groupings so that they looked as natural as possible.  Even showed them how rocks had been placed in my front flowerbeds and why I liked them.  When they installed the boulders, they cut the steel edging along the border of the beds at regular intervals and placed one bolder in each gap.  It looked very staged and far from natural. No one from Southwood every came to check on the newly hired designer, nor did anyone ever call me to see if I was pleased. Also the work crew did not seem to know much of anything about planting.  Many of the shrubs were planted way too close to the fence for their size, I had plants only partially planted in the ground (4 inches of the potted soil is above ground) and placement was less than pleasing to the eye. For the most part, the landscape designer was not on sight during planting.  He was there at the beginning of the day, he brought the crew drinks from QT in the middle of the day and showed up at the end.  I tried to let them do their thing and stay out of their way.  I had hired professionals and expected professional work.  Once or twice I did go out because they were placing things wrong and there was no one their supervising.  The crew did not speak English and I had trouble getting them to understand.  The work started on Thursday 6/2/11 and was supposed to be completed the next day. The last email I saved was dated 6/13/11 and they were still trying to get a crew available to complete the work. I don't remember when they finally got it done.

Long story short, after fuming about my, not so lovely, backyard all summer, I called Southwood in September and complained. 

Late November early December we were finally scheduled and corrections were made. Needless to say, most of the plants have not fared well.  I have little to show for the $4000 I spent. It was a splurge for me to hire professionals and we had high hopes for the start of a beautiful backyard. I will go back to doing as much of my own gardening as I am able. I would not recommend Southwood Landscaping.

I had a super experience with them. I use them all the time.

They laid out new beds, removed existing sod, tilled and brought in new top soil & compost and installed stone borders along with sizeable flagstone areas at both entrances to back yard.  Installed all new plants  and removed an existing tree in front yard and replaced it with a different species and pruned/trimmed some existing Holly Trees.  They arrived as promised, all work done in a professional manner and cleaned up well when completed.

They are very helpful. They have good, knowledgeable employees. They have a very good selection and variety of plants and supply materials.

Two Otto Luykens and 4 Rose Creek Abelias are DEAD. Company refuses to replace due to not paying full amount within 30 days as specified on "contract". No subsequent invoices sent until 4/30/07.

THEY MADE SURE THAT THE FOUNTAIN WAS CONNECTED TO OUR PLUMBING SO THAT WE COULD TURN IT ON AND OFF WHEN WE WANTED. THE RINGS AROUND THE TREES HAVE ALSO HELPED OUT. THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THE FOUNTAIN IN MY FRONT YARD.