This report concerns All Year Landscaping (aka Veterans All Year Lanscaping) ("the Company"). My dealings with the Company have only been through the Phoenix office. I can't speak for its other locations; when this incident occurred, the Company appeared to be a local outfit. Their phone number is 602-606-7503. They do not have a publicized physical address.
In March of I called the Company concerning a quote for installation of sod in my front and back yard. My front and back yard have fully functioning automatic sprinklers. I spoke to an individual named Mike Kordas. I told Mr. Kordas that I needed sod installed in my front and back yard. After we discussed the type of grass appropriate for my yard, he quoted me a price for which the Company agreed to do the following: (1) spray herbicide on the ground to kill existing weed growth; (2) after a waiting period, return to prepare the soil and install the sod. The sod was separate.
I paid the sod vendor separately and consulted the sod vendor's web site for installation tips. The web site was consistent with what Mr. Kordas told me the Company was going to do. According to the sod vendor's specifications, the ground was to be free of weeds (i.E., bare), a light layer of mulch was to be applied, and the sod installed over the mulch. I ordered Tiff-way sod that was a Bermuda hybride that came preseeded with mature annual rye grass.
The Company sent a representative to my home named Phil to take measurements. I explained to Phill that I wanted sod installed in both my back, side and front yards. I went over with him the services Mr. Kordas assured me the Company would perform. Phil took measurements of my yard but, for some reason, did not measure the back yard. When the sod arrived, we were 840 square feet short. The Company refused to correct its error without changing the quote considerably.
The installers arrived, under the supervision of Phil. Rather than spraying herbicide and completely clearing the area, as promised, the installers simply used a lawnmower and mowed everything down as short as they could. They skipped the mulching step and slapped the sod down over the top of dry earth. I asked Phil if it would grow and he assured me it would. A few weeks later, when the rye grass died off and the bermuda came out of dormancy, the Bermuda came in in splotchy and failed to thrive. This is a direct result of the Company taking short cuts and not following the sod manufacturers installation guidelines. I called to complain about the quality of the installation but Kordas stoopped taking my calls and the Company never returned honored their representation that "satisfaction is guaranteed".
As to the back yard, I decided to do it myself. I sprayed herbicide, waited a few days, and then hired a couple of college students. The three of us painstakingly removed every single weed and rendered the lot completely barren. I applied a thin layer of mulch and we laid down the sod. (I used the same type of sod from the same company)
Now, a year later, the lawn the Company planted is practically non-existent; it is overrun with weeds and the Bermuda grass did not come out of dormancy this season. On the other hand, the lawn I installed myself is green and lush, relatively weed free and is looking good for a new season.
I should have just done the whole thing myself.
I am contemplating tearing up all the sod they planted last year and doing the project over again, but the cost of removal would be prohibitive. Unfortunately, the Company was not subject to Arizona's contracting licensure statutes or I would have filed a Complaint.
All I can say to you is that Veterans All Year Lanscaping does poor quality work and I would not recommend them to anybody.
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