Ledford Landscape

I too bought a Smith Douglas and had the opportunity to be exposed to Gary Ledford landscaping. It is a disaster. We have been complaining for a year now to Smith Douglas who for some strange reason seems OK with this guy, hard to figure out, or is it?
My yard is bumpy & rough, the sod was thrown down over building materials, and the ground was not prepped properly. But the worst problem is that the drainage is horrible because of the substandard landscaping by Gary Ledford Landscaping, in my opinion. Both sides of my home have Slime mold from standing water. Somehow the segment of Landscaping first reader where they teach that water does not run uphill was missed by the entire Leford crew.
Gary himself was here with Smith Douglas yesterday and they collectively concluded that my situation falls within thier requirements for excellence. This site does not accomodate uploading pictures but I have hundreds. If you want to discuss further or have me email pics, my email is [email protected]. Happy to share my landscape disaster and general impression of Smith Douglas.
And because I called him out for his lousy work he copped an attitude.
And by the way, I filed a complaint with BBB because I actually paid them and they hired Ledford. I found out that the BBB A+ rating is given to anyone who responds, no matter if they satisfy the customer or not. A dissatisfied customer does not affect the A+. Number of open complaints is a better measure, when I filed mine there were 81 open complaints an 21 closed. If I understand this there are 81 dissatified customers and 21 that accepted the response or action. This explains the huge disparity between Smith Douglas reviews and the A+ rating.

I recently purchased a new construction home, and Ledford Landscaping installed my sod, bushes and trees.

The sod was delivered to my house, and sat for two days before Ledford Landscaping installed it. They threw it down haphazardly, with large gaps between pieces of sod (which has since led to weeds). Much of it was ridden with fungus, and dead upon arrival. I also had a long track of about 20 holes, each one measuring 1 foot wide. They did not lay it flat, so the yard is very uneven. I brought this to attention, and was told it would improve if I watered regularly and threw ironite on it. Also, my bushes were installed directly in the Georgia clay without proper soil, and the trees were buried too deep. They left a very steep hill in the back without any sort of erosion prevention, and the hill started eroding with each rain fall.

Days later, my sod had not improved, and I brought it to attention several times throughout the next month. Gary, the boss, eventually came out, only to replace the track of holes. I was told that “because there is some growth in other areas, they will not be replaced.” The sod they used looked left over from a previous job, and was in rough shape. They again laid it poorly, leaving large gaps, which is conducive to weeds. As they were leaving, I checked their work, and noticed they had left half of the holes unfixed. I asked them to double-check. As they drove off, I checked their work, and still noticed unaddressed holes. They even filled one of the holes with dead grass.

Ledford Landscaping installed the yard adjacent to mine, and the grass looks much fresher, with no fungus or holes. I use it as a comparison to mine.

I have since had 3 landscape experts, and two people with doctorates (PhDs) in plant pathology, soil microbiology and turfgrass science (basically grass experts) tell me that my sod is absolutely atrocious. They all recommend the same: removing the sod and starting over, because the cost to nurse it back to life and time involved will be exponential.

Ledford Landscaping never offered an apology for poor workmanship, nor have they offered to make it right by giving me acceptable sod. I wish I could attach pictures, because they would speak for themselves.