LITTLE GARDENSCAPES

He's very qualified, and his pricing is very competitive. We've used him for the better part of a decade, and he also built a major retaining wall along the back of our lot in the past. Doug is very capable and honest, and his employees are hard-working.

This company left two flyers at my door in the last year or so. I called for an estimate for work on 7/29/09. Later that day, he called back. I described what I wanted done. When we were setting up a time for him to come out and give an estimate, the phone was disconnected. I waited a while for him to call back, and when he didn't, I called him again. He interrupted my introduction and abruptly told me he wasn't interested in doing the work.

The initial work went well. Doug was a bit late for appointments, but within acceptable limits. The work was excellent and we were quite pleased. The problem was in the follow-up. We made an appointment to walk through the garden and assess the damage. Doug did not show up, but he did appear the following day. He made no attempt to let us know he was there, we simply saw him arrive because our kitchen faces the garden. He again agreed to replace the dead plantings, but from that point forward he had simply disappeared. He has returned no phone calls and made no contact. He clearly has no intention of making good on his guarantee. He may do good work, when he chooses to work at all, but he does not make good on his promises, nor does he stand by the work that he does. I recommend that you steer clear of this company.

Got name of company from an employee of a local compost company. Called owner and asked him if he could come out and provide an estimate for shrub and ground cover removal, bed improvement and potentially build me a small stone wall. He came out next day, surveyed job and provided an estimate on the spot. Price for tear-out seemed very good, price for building wall seemed high and was not itemized. I emailed owner asking for more detail on wall (how many square feet wall would be, how wall would be constructed, etc.). I asked him if he could provide estimate on a man-made wall and come out and tell me where wall would go, how high, etc. 6 days went by with no response. I finally emailed him and asked him if he was still interested in job. His response, literally, was ''No, thanks.'' I would have appreciated it if he could have just told me that instead of me having to chase after him for resolution.

Got name of company from an employee of a local compost company. Called owner and asked him if he could come out and provide an estimate for shrub and ground cover removal, bed improvement and potentially build me a small stone wall. He came out next day, surveyed job and provided an estimate on the spot. Price for tear-out seemed very good, price for building wall seemed high and was not itemized. I emailed owner asking for more detail on wall (how many square feet wall would be, how wall would be constructed, etc.). I asked him if he could provide estimate on a man-made wall and come out and tell me where wall would go, how high, etc. 6 days went by with no response. I finally emailed him and asked him if he was still interested in job. His response, literally, was ''No, thanks.'' I would have appreciated it if he could have just told me that instead of me having to chase after him for resolution.

RECEIVED A DARLING ADVERTISEMENT. CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND DOUG WAS VERY PROMPT IN RETURNING THE CALL & SETTING UP A DATE & TIME. WE TOURED THE YARD. I THOUGHT I EXPLAINED MY NEEDS AND ITEMS I WANTED INCORPORATED. HE CHARGES $50 FOR A DRAWN PLAN WHICH IS DEDUCTED FROM THE COST IF YOU HAVE HIM PERFORM THE WORK. I WAS IMPRESSED AND GAVE HIM A $50 CHECK FOR THE PLAN. I RECEIVED IT PROMPTLY AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. I CALLED TO HAVE HIM COME BACK AS I WAS CONFUSED. NO PLANS WERE INCLUDED FOR THE SIDES OF THE HOUSE AND MY ITEMS WERE NOT MENTIONED TO BE INCORPORATED. HE RETURNED MY CALL STATING HE COULD NOT COME BACK WHEN I REQUESTED AND WOULD CALL BACK IN A FEW DAYS. HE HAS NEVER CALLED BACK!

THEIR PRICES ARE VERY REASONABLE AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE WITH LEAVING THE SITE AS NICE AS WHEN THEY ARRIVED. THEY CALL BEFORE THEY COME, THEY SHOW UP ON TIME, AND THEY CLEAN UP AS THEY GO AND ARE CAREFUL WITH THE WORK SITE. WE WERE MOST IMPRESSED WITH THEM BECAUSE IT TOOK MANY MORE TRUCKLOADS THAN ANTICIPATED TO REMOVE ALL OF THE LANDSCAPE DEBRIS, BUT THEY STUCK TO THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE AND DIDN'T CHARGE MORE.