S & S Lawn Service

Service went well.  This is a standard lawn service company at a standard price.

My first service experience began with 2 no shows.  My contract was suppose to begin with a service 4 (core aeration, reseed,

fertilization, broadleaf control Sep 2012.  After 2 no shows it was November 2012 when they wanted to aerate and reseed.  Versus cancelling we agreed to make the contract start with first service in 2013.
First service after I called to complain and ask where they were, was April 2013.  Late for Virginia to be getting the best out of pre-emergent weed control.  My very well maintained lawn (thanks to TruGreen prior season) now looked liked a forest.  After two weeks the product didn't make a dent even in the dandelions.  I saw no evidence of any weed wilting.  I finally hand weeded the major weeds out of my 11,500 foot of lawn thinking this might help the 2nd service get ahead of the problem. I also had to resolve a billing mix-up as they started to claim my first service was actually my second.  I did get resolution on my third phone call.
Second service early summer was fertilization, pre-emergence, broadleaf control and grub proofing.  They finally showed up 24 May for this.  My bigger frustration was I noticed red thread developing and asked for someone to come out and confirm and treat.  I even offered to pay extra.  Bottom line is they kept promising and never showed to even evaluate until the second service.
Between 2nd service and 3rd weeds did not appear to be impacted at all.  I asked for a re-inspection and retreatment .  Promise after promise no one showed.  As a test I went to Home Depot and bought some over the counter Bayer lawn weed spray.  I sprayed many of the troubled areas and saw visible weed wilting within 8 hours just like the product advertised.  Basically, whatever S&S was putting down was so watered down or sparse, it couldn't even compete with a Home Depot product.
Just after the 3rd service, 20 July, Post Emergence, Insect control, Fungus control. I asked if they were going to treat at least the visible areas of the Red Thread again and complained again about no visible impact on the weed control.  They have never come back out to even look at anything and it is now 19 Sep and getting late for the core aeration and reseeding.
Bottom line, I had to go to southern States and buy a commercial product which I used twice with a two week spacing and I now seem to have gotten the upper hand.  My lawn has only survived the S&S Lawn Experience thanks to Southern States and Home depot commercial products which I did the labor to apply.
I've asked to speak to someone in Management at S&S but no one is ever apparently there and no one has ever returned a call.
From what I can tell, they either skimped, watered down, or used inferior products.  I had to supplement everything.  Weed control  Insect control, Grub control, and Fungus control and apply myself.
In prepping for 2014, I had another company evaluate which soil tested several areas.  Their tests showed the yard was under-fertilized.  Another confirmation of product or service deficiency.
I am going back to TruGreen for 2014.  Their product works and they retreat as promised.  Do not be fooled by S&S Lawn Services comprehensive list of services performed.  Not one is of quality to warrant the expense.  Better to do yourself.

2 guys show up and in 1/2 hour or so, they are done, front, back, side, edging and blowing off grass clippings. I live on a side of a rather large hill. I do not have to be at home when they come, but I can always tell they have been there. Perfect height of the grass.

S&S Lawn Services Inc. We just started using this company.  I am happy with what they have done so far.  They were just out here last Friday.   They have a reasonably informative website.  They left a package with their quote so you can look over and see everything that they do.  I think the price is reasonable.  It's less than what we paid last year and the year before.  We are not going to use all of the services that they offered because my wife wants to do some of the work herself, like mulching and planting and such.  I should say ourselves.  So far it's just the grass cutting.  I guess punctuality is fine.  I don't know how long it took them, but it was our first visit so.