Land by Ann

We were looking for different plants/ground coverings available for several shaded areas in our yard where grass won't grow. Additionally we are on a slope so get erosion with heavy rain. We need a good shade tolerant ground cover and some sort of terracing. We're not experts in this field and aren't really sure what we needed or what was available. When Ann called we explained the project to her as I did above. Ann was very abrasive on the phone and said that we didn't know what landscaping was. That we didn't know what we wanted (duh! That's why we called.). Asking if we were sure we would even use her. Since we didn't know what we wanted and didn't know what landscaping is she said we would never be happy and that it wouldn't work out. I don't care if this IS her personality (like she claims in other and quot;Fand quot; reviews), it's just plain bad business. She jumped to conclusions and made assumptions with minimal information and responded abrasively. Guess to her the customer is always wrong. UPDATE TO PROVIDERS RESPONSE: Thank you so much for your response and actually making my point for me! Like I said in my review and quot; You jump to conclusions and make assumptions based on minimal information.and quot; I guess that would happen if there's only a 3 minute conversation. I was hoping you would come to our house and actually look at the project, to fully understand the scope. But you kept being abrasive and telling me that I didn't know what I wanted! (WOW! a site visit might have cleared that up!). I have since had two other companies come out and look at and bid on the job. They both wanted to do it. There were NO communication problems with them AT ALL! And finally, YOU, decided that YOU would not be a good fit.

Ann knows her stuff, is punctual, professional and I will definitely use her in the future.

Iwas referred to Land by Ann by a friend. My biggest challenge is that I have a lot of shade in my yard and everything that I've planted has either done really well or not well at all. At first I wanted to get rid of all the grass, but Ann explained that grass watering isn't the problem if it's properly maintained and nourished which now it is. Ann came over in May to take a look at the yard and start her proprosal. The work didn't start until June and had several phases that have just concluded. That said, this isn't the end of my relationship with this company, as I was so impressed by their knowledge of organic gardening, sprinkler systems, lawn maintenance, that I will want them to come a couple of times a year at least for and quot;tune upsand quot;. I cannot say enough good things about Ann's gardeners. She definitely has a vision for her work and what needs to happen in each yard, and she is brilliant at communicating this to her gardeners and letting them contribute their thoughts too. First phase - Built beds in front yard and side yard, lawn treatment, sprinkler adjustment, rain gauge, added crushed granite to areas that were just bare soil. All of this was an immediate esthetic improvement. No plantings as it was just starting to get really hot. Ann transplanted all of the plants in my yard into pots which we kept on the deck and maintained through summer. She brought several new plants for me to get acquainted with during this period. Ultimately we either replanted or recycled every plant in my yard and she gave me credit for the ones that didn't belong in my yard anymore (because I shouldn't have selected them in the first place). Second phase - placed grass in other side yard. Third phase - Planted beds, put plants on drip. (This was a huge priority for me because it conserves water and uses it more effectively. Her gardener did it for I 'm sure much less than it would have cost to have another company come in on top of all of this.) Added river rock for borders around beds. Worked around fence replacement (and reduction, Ann's idea -another story, see Mike Shaw Construction write up). Added Mountain Laurel to side yard. Anyway results are beautiful and organic - literally and figuratively. The design is classic and timeless and does not rely on materials that would confine or draw the eye away from the plantings. My husband got involved because he so liked what was being done and added his own wishes/ideas into the mix. Land by Ann worked with me to accomodate my work travel schedule and my pets to make sure I was comfortable with when work was being done. She was also very good about keeping my budget in mind and making suggestions in keeping with that. The other very important thing is that she has provided me an education about many things - I am a less clueless gardener now - and I feel I will be able to keep learning and keep up with what's been done. As I said, I hope to work with this company for many years to come. A +

Ann arrived on time (even a few minutes early) for our appointment. Her demeanor and tone was abrasive condescending and harsh. I have hired many contractors over the years and have been in the construction business as a general contractor in my previous line of work where I have worked with all types of contractors including both professional landscapers and individual contractors. I must say that Ann's demeanor was halting to say the least. I was looking for an organic gardener/landscaper to help me establish edible gardens in both the front and back yard. She criticized me immediately and started to tell me how my explanation of what I was looking for was wrong and that I can look up how to grow vegetables myself. What struck me was how aggressive she was toward me as if she had already decided she didn't like me - it was very hurtful. Her advertisements stated she is an expert in organic gardening so I felt that I was misled by her advertisements. It was a waste of my time to meet with Ann. I am a business woman and own and run my own business. I am a professional and have over 20 years experience in business relationships. I want Angies List users to know that Ann may be good at what she does and I am sure that she is. However, her manner is so harsh that I cannot even fathom a personality that can take it well. It was all just too much trouble to deal with and I told her that it seemed to me that she was trying to sabotage this potential job by pushing me away with her tone. It worked.

I found Ann on Angie's List when searching for a reliable landscaper with a focus on organic gardening. For the previous six years I had been fighting and losing the battle with rows upon rows of non-native broadleaf evergreen hedges planted by the builder, in some places two and three rows deep, along the entire length of every side of my home and the entire length of the back fence. I had been through six or seven lawn services and two landscape services, and after taking on the job, not one of them were willing or able to keep the hedges from becoming overgrown. I began to remove a few hedgerows every year, then gave that up and decided to take out the lot and start from scratch. When Ann was here for our initial consultation early last October, it rained for the first time in months. I took that for the good omen it eventually turned out to be. Ann and Co have been an absolute godsend. In the front yard they removed the remaining hedges, built up the soil in the beds and designed a landscape of beautiful native and adapted plants. In the back yard they removed all hedges, planted sod where the hedgerows had been, and designed two new beds--one and quot;floatingand quot; in the center of the yard, one and quot;dockedand quot; to a side fence--with more native and adapteds planted. They converted all beds, front and back, from pop-up and riser irrigation to a drip system. A few years after moving into the house, I had removed the hedges from a narrow bed against the south side of the house in the back yard and had been using that as my veggie garden. Ann moved it away from the side of the house, built a two ft stone wall around it and installed a dedicated drip system. It's beautiful and so much more accessible now. For the first time in six years, not only do I not feel overwhelmed and frustrated by my landscape, I LOVE it and enjoy working and relaxing in it. Ann is a rarity in the trade: punctual, reliable, communicative, details oriented and extremely organized. She's proud of her company and she knows her stuff. She is experienced and knowledgeable in plants, bed construction, soils, irrigation, organic plant foods and treatments, landscape materials, and in areas where her knowledge may be less extensive (technical aspects of irrigation, for example), a member of the crew carries that expertise. Her crew are skilled, hard working, personable, communicative and work well together. Work began and ended on schedule (weather permitting, which it usually did). Deliveries of materials were on time. Organization was phenomenal. If I had a question or concern, I could send Ann a text or e-mail and have an answer quickly. Honestly, I can't come up with any negatives in working with Ann's company because on the rare occasion a problem did arise, Ann worked it out. Ann has confidence in her expertise, is passionate about gardening and has strong opinions which she isn't shy about sharing. I found this personal quality of hers to be rare and refreshing, as I felt I could count on her to lay bare the reality of a thing. No sugarcoating, no building of false expectations, no BS. Bottom line: I'm extremely happy with Ann and Co's work. They took pride in it and seemed genuinely concerned that I be happy with it. They were a joy to work with and I look forward to working with them again. If you're looking for an experienced, reliable, organics-focused landscape company, I highly recommend Land By Ann.

Ann was very punctual. She understood my project immediately and exactly what was needed. She saw that I needed soil, mulch, etc. I have had problems with plants and she clearly identified that the plant beds needed to be properly prepared. Additionally, she did a fantastic design of the yard. Her "guys" are wonderful and work extremely hard.We have been having a drainage problem since we moved into the house (15 years). She solved the problem by her use of landscaping!!

great. I have Ann back to update my landscaping about twice a year.

. Her price is extremely expensive. She is very professional and knowledgeable. I wouldn’t use her in the future.

This was our first experience with Ann, but we expect to have an ongoing relationship with her. We contacted her initially to do a minor revision to our front yard and add one or two beds in the back yard. I had a budget of around $2000 in mind. When Ann came out, the pointed out several things that could be improved and had a much grander vision for the yard. I decided on the spot to offer a budget of $5000, and she agreed that the major elements could be accomplished for that amount. (The initial consultation was free, but the design cost $200. The final cost with tax was closer to $6000, but we agreed to the extra costs.) She came back with a plan that incorporated all of the things we talked about and hit our budget point, and we accepted her proposal. She was able to start work a few weeks later. (Like a lot of successful Austin landscapers, she is very busy. If you contact her late in the season, she may not be able to get back to you.) She and her crew did an excellent job of implementing the plan. She uses only her own crew members and pays them a "living wage," and she was personally on site every day for at least part of the day . . . some days all day. My wife felt comfortable around her crew members, which is an important consideration for us. We were impressed with the plant selections and the volume of materials (Geo-Growers soil, decomposed granite, hardwood mulch) that she brought in for the job. We plan to have her back in the Fall for a consultation and back next March or April for annual maintenance.

I was trying to get a quote for our front yard landscaping. Our yard was full of weeds and it was really in a bad shape. Ann came over on time and said she needed to clear up our yard first before she could plan anything. We were not comfortable with hiring her to clean it up without knowing the overall price first so we did not hire her. Overall, Ann seemed honest and professional although we felt she was a little bit too blunt for our taste. I gave her credit for speaking her mind instead of trying to please us to get the project though.

Ann arrived at my home on time. I gave her an overview of my project. Before finishing, she told me she and I couldn't work together and that she didn't do what I wanted. I wanted new beds, refreshing of old ones and general improvements to my landscape necessary because of a major addition to my home. We never got to my budget (15,000-20,000) nor what it is she does. While I appreciate her directness, so that neither of us wasted our time, I would not recommend her to the average homeowner.

From start to finish, Land by Ann has excelled in its knowledge and performance. I am an experienced and knowledgeable California gardener (especially with respect to organic practices), but knew nothing about gardening in Texas when I moved here. I knew I needed a very special person to meet my requirements of depth of knowledge and quality of installation. I interviewed several landscape companies and selected Land by Ann from Angie's List. When she gave me her spiel, she hit all of the nails on the head with respect to organic gardening practices. I was so impressed that I hired her on the spot, and we have been working together for two years. I waited to do this report, because I wanted to see how everything would survive long-term. She didn't disappoint. She came up with a beautiful design that was exactly what I was looking for: segueing my back yard design into the greenbelt beyond. She created three berms full of Texas native trees, shrubs, and perennials that are water-conserving and drought-tolerant, most of which are listed in "Native and Adapted Landscape Plants," written by the Texas Aand M Extension and published by the City of Austin. Moreover, she used the best organic materials to install each plant, and it was obvious that her crew was well-educated with respect to the planting method for each one. I scrutinized their work on a daily basis, and when in doubt, I hit the internet for more information. Each time, she was right. She was particularly sensitive to preserving the three very large oak trees in the back yard, and not disturbing their roots. Her crew (all English-speaking) is hardworking, helpful, and listens carefully to what you have to say. Ann herself checked on the job on a daily basis and instructed her crew as the job progressed. In addition, she was generous with her time in educating me in the care of the Texas natives. I was also impressed with her close attention to drainage issues and solutions. Ann is always on top of the job and especially responsive to questions I posed by email, as well as keeping me up to date on the landscape workplan. She and her crew were there as planned, unless I had received an email to the contrary (this was rare). She is a dedicated and professional gardener with high standards. I found her to be very personable to work with. If you are familiar with the costs of installing quality landscaping, you will agree with me that her price was reasonable. (The price shown above includes some maintenance beyond the original installation.) I wanted a great start for my garden, with the assurance that it would remain a beautiful garden. She more than met that expectation.

Ann seems to have a problem talking to people who don't understand landscaping. She seems to be impatient and caters towards people with $$$. If you're new to landscaping and wanting someone to step you through the process she's not the person for you. Asking questions is like pulling teeth with her

She was great and took the time needed to explain her plan and plant placements.

Ann is always responsive and her workers are wonderful.

I had been putting off doing our yard for 30 years and it finally reached the point that even I thought it was an eyesore. Ann didn't flinch. She could see right away I needed as work-free a yard as possible and that's what I got. Ann did that AND gave me the Japanese garden I had imagined. In fact, it's better than I imagined. She also does the maintenance on it and checks on it to be sure the watering system is working and the plants are healthy. It ain't cheap, but this really is an example of getting what you pay for.

(11/11/2009) Ann did an excellent job. Her employees are capable and extremely nice to work with. This was a big job, overall I spent around $17,000. I already saw a reduction in my water bill for this past summer because of the drip system and not having any grass to water.

Very well. Ann is very knowledgeable and has a great sense for incorporating beauty, practicality, and water conservation into her landscape designs. I would describe her style as a mix of warmth, wisdom, and professionalism. Meetings and work were done promptly when she said they would. Her crew was similarly highly competent, friendly and helpful, with impressive attention to detail in doing the work well. I watched one of the stones being set into the new lawn, a multi-step process involving digging an outline of the irregularly shaped stone at a carefully crafted depth, and the stones are unwaveringly stable. She also did some extra work to improve the long term success of the job, at no extra charge. In brief, Ann provided a top quality personalized professional service from start to finish. We already have plans in motion to engage her services for further work on our yard. A note regarding the rating of a B on cost: I do not have any actual basis for comparison, as I did not obtain any other bids after seeing Ann's reviews on Angie's List and meeting her in person. It's possible that one could find someone who would charge less for this job, but doubtful that the quality of work, and certainly the knowledge base that Ann provides, would compare. While I decided on B for cost, I would grade the value of Ann's services as an A.

Ann was so responsive when I first contacted her. She ALWAYS called and/or e-mailed when she said she would; she came right smack dab on time-ALL the time-and came with a big ole smile and a happy, handsome crew! She LISTENED to what I wanted, made great suggestions, and even sent "end of day notes" to me via e-mail. She is a gem, an absolute gem! I am certain we will work together for a long time!

She gave me immediate response to email inquiry. She was friendly and fun. She was very punctual and she listened to my needs. She spent quality time in my space. She presented a fabulous bid design wise and cost wise. Whenever she said she would do something or give me something by a specific time she always did it She kept her promises regarding time frames. She was very professional but also personable. She was very knowledgeable. She is starting the project on Friday.

I sent out an email request to 6 landscape services that advertised experience with native plants. Only 2 of those companies were willing to talk to me. Of those 2 companies Ann took the time to study my yard and find out what I wanted. When she delivered her design she included reference materials on each plant she had selected and she explained what she would do and why she selected the design and plants. She did the work as expected and after completion she came back several times to make small adjustments. She replaced some mulch without charge that did not hold up on a hillside. Single most important word to describe Ann is PASSION. She is passionate about what she does and that makes a difference.

I sent out an email request to 6 landscape services that advertised experience with native plants. Only 2 of those companies were willing to talk to me. Of those 2 companies Ann took the time to study my yard and find out what I wanted. When she delivered her design she included reference materials on each plant she had selected and she explained what she would do and why she selected the design and plants. She did the work as expected and after completion she came back several times to make small adjustments. She replaced some mulch without charge that did not hold up on a hillside. Single most important word to describe Ann is PASSION. She is passionate about what she does and that makes a difference.

The work went well though not without complications. Ann did get to the project before the date promised because the rain kept her from other jobs. She completed the job fairly quickly and was responsive to our calls. The fountain pump developed a leak after about three weeks but Ann called someone out to completely redo the pump and it is now working properly. Ann was helpful in the beginning of the project when we were trying to decide what to do with the space since it is difficult to grow regular plants in the area.

Ann, is very energetic. When we first met it was clear she was very passionate about her work. We discussed a general plan and I gave her a budget to work with. I laid out the plan I had in mind. A few days later she came back with a bid for the job. Then we worked out a compromise plan incorporating my ideas and budget. She provided her expertise every step of the way. We emailed back and forth and finalized the plans after meeting again. The job started on time, the crew showed up everyday and each day they cleaned up, and the job was completed on time. Several issues came up during the actual installation but we were always consulted about necessary changes to the design and made aware of any additional expense. Each day we anticipated and watched the transformation of our worn out yard to the show place it has become. We look forward to having the crew back for planting. The yard incorporates natural elements of the area and we're extremely pleased.

Ann, is very energetic. When we first met it was clear she was very passionate about her work. We discussed a general plan and I gave her a budget to work with. I laid out the plan I had in mind. A few days later she came back with a bid for the job. Then we worked out a compromise plan incorporating my ideas and budget. She provided her expertise every step of the way. We emailed back and forth and finalized the plans after meeting again. The job started on time, the crew showed up everyday and each day they cleaned up, and the job was completed on time. Several issues came up during the actual installation but we were always consulted about necessary changes to the design and made aware of any additional expense. Each day we anticipated and watched the transformation of our worn out yard to the show place it has become. We look forward to having the crew back for planting. The yard incorporates natural elements of the area and we're extremely pleased.