A Yard and a Half Landscaping Cooperative

We met with landscape designer (Carolyn) in August of 2007 to discuss project options and to develop preliminary design and budget. Over the next several months, we refined the design for both the hardscape and landscape. We also obtained competitive bids from other comparable companies and found Yard and A Half to be competitive in cost. We finalized a design and contract in June 2008. Construction started on schedule and finished on time and on budget. The contractor, subcontractors and all of the employees exceeded all reasonable expectations in terms of quality, punctuality, friendliness and reliability. They even walked the dog for us on occasions!

This company did a thorough job and worked hard. They worked around my difficult hill side lot. They did not have access to the backyard because there was no driveway. I was satisfied with the finished project.

Ironically, the quality of the work is excellent. The real issue is responsiveness. We originally contacted them when we started a project to finish our basement and were told we needed French drains to avoid water in the basement. We used another company to do our waterproofing and decided we didn't need the French drains. So A-Yard-and-a-Half now had $3500 of our deposit money, and we decided to install a new front walk, do some different water drainage work and install outdoor lights. We were working with a contractor (sic) who did not return our calls. Finally the landscape designer contacted us and we met to respec the job. A number of weeks went by, well past the time we were supposed to get a new estimate. Finally, about two weeks late, we got the estimate. Once again it took many calls and email back and forth just to set a timeframe for the Fall (it was now Spring). Fall arrived and, once again, we had to contact them to set a date. Since they had been holding $3500 of our money for almost a year, I expected them to be more proactive. They did a fantastic job installing the walkway and stepping stones-it looks beautiful and we get lots of compliments. After that, they disappeared without any communication about when the job would be finished. About a week went by and I came home to find them wiring the lights. Again, nice work but no communication. The wrong drain pipe was initially connected to the dry well, and I had to call them to come back and redo the work. What is frustrating is that if they could only get it together on communication and responsiveness I would not only use them but recommend them to others.

Everyone that we came in contact with was very responsive. They called back promptly, came on time for the estimate, and sent the estimate quickly. We were scheduled quickly after sending the deposit. The work is beautiful! They took the time to cut the sod in a perfect arc around our large tree. We had a great experience from start to finish. We plan to call them in the spring to help with landscaping our front yard. See you then, guys!

I contacted the company about work we would like to do in our yard. I asked to get an estimate. Instead of just sending out someone to provide the estimate, they asked if I had a design plan and directed me to a very expensive landscape designer (whose services I opted not to use after realizing they were going to charge me a small fortune for a small amount of design help). I finally came back to Yard and a Half for an estimate (again) and they sent someone out. His estimate for the hardscape (walkways and patios) was double what I am now paying a very talented mason to do the same work. The landscape work was costly as well.

The person who came to give the estimate asked what had others bid. This company was our first inquiry. His approach should have been to give a summary of the project that would have made us feel that his company was the best for performing the work. We have never received an estimate.

I phoned explaining that I had an idea of what I wanted, but wasn't that sure what should be done. While the size of the property is on the small side, it is on a corner lot and it was important that it fit into the neighborhood. They asked me more questions regarding how I heard about them than they did about what I needed. They, then, made an appointment to have an "Estimator" come to meet with us. While he was very nice, he said he could not give us an estimate or plan for the back of the house since they were still working on it. He said he would be asking some of the "designers" for some ideas. He did send an $3700 estimate for the small area in the front and a walkway. Would have to send half of the payment of the estimate just to get on their schedule, which was "filling up quickly". When we told him that the back deck area was our main concern and we needed more of an idea of what could be done and when, he never got back to us. I might have been happy using this company when they first started, but they may have grown too big, and I was doubtful that I was going to get what I was willing to pay for, a well designed landscape. I have found another landscaper through Angie's List. They gave us a far more reasonable estimate for the whole job. While they also have a waiting list, I feet more confident that they will be able to do the work shortly after the deck is complete. Also, they do not expect a payment until they are ready to start the job.

I phoned explaining that I had an idea of what I wanted, but wasn't that sure what should be done. While the size of the property is on the small side, it is on a corner lot and it was important that it fit into the neighborhood. They asked me more questions regarding how I heard about them than they did about what I needed. They, then, made an appointment to have an "Estimator" come to meet with us. While he was very nice, he said he could not give us an estimate or plan for the back of the house since they were still working on it. He said he would be asking some of the "designers" for some ideas. He did send an $3700 estimate for the small area in the front and a walkway. Would have to send half of the payment of the estimate just to get on their schedule, which was "filling up quickly". When we told him that the back deck area was our main concern and we needed more of an idea of what could be done and when, he never got back to us. I might have been happy using this company when they first started, but they may have grown too big, and I was doubtful that I was going to get what I was willing to pay for, a well designed landscape. I have found another landscaper through Angie's List. They gave us a far more reasonable estimate for the whole job. While they also have a waiting list, I feet more confident that they will be able to do the work shortly after the deck is complete. Also, they do not expect a payment until they are ready to start the job.

Based on the good reviews here, I called to schedule an estimate. After describing the work and making an appointment, Lori told me they have a minimum $2000 per job. I already have a quote for less than that, it is a small job (removing 2 stumps, 2 trees, and grading). I thought others should know about this before contacting them for small jobs. Lori was pleasant on the phone and I'm glad I found this out before taking time from work to get an estimate. Hope others find this useful.

We find their workmen to be really great. They are exceedingly thorough. They are artistic and they really do the job well, and they clean up after themselves.

They were fantastic! They were on time and did exactly what I wanted them to do. They came right away to give me the estimate and they started and finished as promised. I would use them again and I have recommended them.

They did some good work, they cut the lawn fairly well. They did some planting of some big trees for me that was okay, but the pruning was awful. It ruined the bushes in the front of my house. I don't think there was any training and there isn't anyone in the company that follows up with these issues. The person in charge is very hard to communicate with.

My email request was responded to the next day; someone called to schedule an appointment two days later; and Eulalio came to our house the next day. He was very professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. He promised to send me a proposal by email in three days and was right on schedule. I found the proposed price to be high, however. The $1,463 total in the proposal included $621 for the removal of the old yew hedge (and stump) and $842 for the planting of and mulching around three rhododendrons. I was able to find another Angie's List contractor who did the removal for $275. I bought the rhododendrons and mulch myself for $200 and planted and mulched them myself in about 4 hours (including travel time to and from the nursery).

It was excellent. The designer was very open to my ideas. Together we drew up the plans for the yard. She selected wonderful trees. She was very easy to work with and they are very nice people. They are reliable, came when they said they would, and were very hard working.

It was excellent. The designer was very open to my ideas. Together we drew up the plans for the yard. She selected wonderful trees. She was very easy to work with and they are very nice people. They are reliable, came when they said they would, and were very hard working.

I appreciated that Lori was up front, which you do not always get when speaking with contractors.

She said she would fax me an estimate and get back to me for this work, but she never did. It was annoying the whole way this was handled. I was very disappointed with her and would not recommend her to anyone.

Giancarlo came out to the house to give us an estimate. He struck us as quite professional and competent. We were in a hurry to get the estimate because the work we wanted--installing a new lawn--needs to be done before the first frost and time was limited. He agreed to get us the estimate the next day so that we could schedule the work as soon as possible. But two or three weeks later, we still didn't have an estimate and no one returned our several calls. Eventually he did call back and said that, given the late date they wouldn't be able to schedule the work in time, and did I still want him to bother doing the estimate? I said yes because at least I could use it for next Spring (having totally missed the window of opportunity for sodding in the Fall). The estimate seems overpriced to me. We have a small lawn and they est. $10K for sodding. We decided to do that work ourselves for 10% of the cost but we may use them in the Spring to do the walkway.

Giancarlo came out to the house to give us an estimate. He struck us as quite professional and competent. We were in a hurry to get the estimate because the work we wanted--installing a new lawn--needs to be done before the first frost and time was limited. He agreed to get us the estimate the next day so that we could schedule the work as soon as possible. But two or three weeks later, we still didn't have an estimate and no one returned our several calls. Eventually he did call back and said that, given the late date they wouldn't be able to schedule the work in time, and did I still want him to bother doing the estimate? I said yes because at least I could use it for next Spring (having totally missed the window of opportunity for sodding in the Fall). The estimate seems overpriced to me. We have a small lawn and they est. $10K for sodding. We decided to do that work ourselves for 10% of the cost but we may use them in the Spring to do the walkway.

It could not have gone better. It was a pleasure from the start. I met with Giovanni to discuss my ideas. He helped refine those ideas and promptly provided an estimate. When we were ready to start the project I wanted to expand the scope. I got a very reasonable estimate for the change. The work started and completed as scheduled. It looks lovely. I also appreciate they were wiling to use material I had left over from another landscape project.

They are really efficient and hard workers. I am very satisfied with they did for me but the entire job was expensive. I don't have any complaints because it was a big project and they did an impressive job.

The initial appraisal was a little high and they came down a bit in price. They changed the type of tree upon my request and were very good natured about it. They will not do any job under $1000.

They did a fantastic job. It was difficult to take the old wall away because they could not get a machine in our backyard so they had to disassemble the old wall by hand. They were very nice and very professional.

The project went extremely well. I contacted Ellen through the company's Web site, which is professionally done. I gave her an idea of what we were looking for and after an exchange of several e-mails she produced a project/proposal. I had gotten other quotes; hers was competitive, so given her excellent reviews on the List, I decided to go with A Yard & A Half. The tree was planted a month later, when the weather was cooler. A few days before I was contacted by Kolleta to set a time. Kolleta arrived with the crew and discussed several possible placements for the tree. We chose one of her suggestions and have been pleased with the results. It took about two hours to plant the tree, given the size of the root ball and the number of rocks encountered in the dig, with two workers with an assist from Kolleta doing the job. They did an excellent clean up (removing rocks and dirt). Everyone was very professional. We are enjoying our new tree.

Very professional. Geovani pleasure to work with. Top quality work, no shortcuts. Price is high but for good reason.