Lawn care? See before and after photos -- buyer beware!
We decided to try Hometurf as their early bird offer seemed like a good deal, and about the same cost as we would normally pay for fertilizer and aeration. The initial treatments (early and late spring fertilizer and first Fiesta application) were fine, and the lawn looked good in March and April. However, by mid-June it was starting to go downhill. I saw other neighbours' lawns with signs saying they had been treated with Fiesta in early July. By the end of July we still hadn't received a second weed treatment. I had called their customer service line in mid July to ask when I might expect the second treatment, as well as the summer fertilizer, and was told to expect it the following week. When they came the following week, they peformed aeration and overseeding -- something that should normally be done in the spring or fall. The overseeding came with a warning that germination was not guaranteed. No kidding! Who overseeds their lawn during the hottest part of the summer, and expects it to germinate?
Two weeks later, we placed a second call to ask again about the second weed treatment and summer fertilizer. Our call was met with a very indifferent customer service person, who said that the second weed treatment was scheduled for later that week -- when rain was clearly forecasted!
As of September 24th, we are still awaiting one application of Fiesta weed control, and TWO fertilizer applications. Based on their performance thus far, I expect we'll receive them sometime after the first major snowfall of the year.
When we said that we would be cancelling at the end of the contract, there was no attempt to ask why we were unhappy, or do anything to convince us otherwise. This leads me to believe that this company is very accustomed to unsatisfied customers.
My lawn has never looked worse. I've never hired a company to fertilize it, because I've never been confident that the lawn would be looked after to my standards, or even as promised.
Save your money. Or do your own research and hire a reputable company.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $350.00
- Company Response
Hello, I am glad to hear that you were happy with the first two applications and that your lawn looked great during the spring growing season. We have seen a severe drought in Ontario since late May which has caused lawns to go dormant which makes them more susceptible to stress and disease. Your summer application would have been completed this week, not in the rain as we do not perform weed control applications when it is raining. We make it policy to not disturb our customers when cancelling as people cancel yearly service for many reasons such as moving, finances, etc. I would be happy to discuss the service with you and resolve any issues but unfortunately I can not identify you without knowing your name or address. Please give me a call at the office to discuss, just ask for Joel.
Hi again Ripped Off, I appreciate the fact that you have been adding to your review but that does not allow us to resolve any issues you may have. Your photos do show a lawn that has seen significant damage but is nothing that we caused. Our fertilizer is a slow release granular fertilizer that does not burn and if the lawn was burnt it would be a bright yellow/orange not brown. It was most likely affected by insects that we have not been able to control since the provincial by-law in 2009, nor have we ever claimed that we can treat for such insects. There are some factors that are beyond our control unfortunately. Regardless, I would love to rectify things with you but again I do not know who you are. Please give me a call at the office so that I can help.