Gerard Design and Associates-Stonegate

Run the other way as fast as you can! This company appears to only be in it for the money. They care nothing about your actual garden or the legacy of gardening. I saw the danger signs, but did not heed them. The materials were sub par. I came to think they pushed things they already had for cheap in their warehouse instead of getting what I requested. They started a brick patio and substituted cheaper orange brick instead of the aged I wanted when they ran out. The same with an uneven mill stone. I had to have them remove it and I was treated as if I were the bad guy instead of the unhappy client. They also did shrub clearing I had not requested (and did not want) and charged me for it! Paul Kueranen was supposed to take me pick out some stone. Instead he sent a foreman who spoke no English. I was expected to get in the car with this guy I had never met. I was uncomfortable with this arrangement, so I followed him instead in my car. He did not understand the project or the budget, so he directed me to the wrong stone, which was delivered to my house and then had to be returned when Paul saw it didn't fit the budget. Again, he treated me like a ninny because of MY stupid mistake. We specifically requested they not drive their bobcat over our new septic tank, but they did it anyway. Paul was at our door demanding the payment balance before his workers left the property. I refused to pay them for several items and they finally settled when I threatened to sue. Since the work was done six years ago, we have removed the awful stone path they installed and replaced it ourselves. Two of trees have had to be replaced. We found they were installed with their metal landscaping baskets still intact with rock-hard clay constricting the roots. The other trees don't look well and will have to be removed shortly. Every time I plant a new perennial, I curse them for the lousy soil they put in. Nothing but junk. I have had to reseed the back yard myself as well. I would have sued them, but didn't want to deal with them again in any way. Thank you Angie's List for giving me a forum.

Paul Keuranen met with us to discuss our project and provided elaborate landscape designs. He then followed up very aggressively, showing up at our house unexpectedly after 8 p,m. more than once. He also followed up over email but seemed to have forgotten that we'd ever met; it was very strange. He was so aggressive that I was a little afraid of him and asked him not to contact us again. Later, I googled him and found out he is a convicted criminal and con artist. The beautiful landscape designs are the hook for his scam - stay away!!!