We live in Alabama and own a Courtyard Villa on a corner lot. This is a rental property until we can retire and move to TV. We have owned this home since the fall of 2013. We are on lawn care company #3 (a company that "does it all" based on the level of service you are willing to pay for) and fertilizer/pest control company #2.

Current company has broken 4 sprinkler heads (sheared off by the riding mowers) but failed to notify us. We discovered 3 of them when we visited the house in between renters. Our renter found the most recent broken head. Also got pictures from the renter showing huge brown spots in the backyard (at least 35-40% of the yard). One would think that the mowing crew would let the office know there may be an issue with the yard (pests) and/or irrigation system. Nope, no call. WE had to call them to ask what is going on.

At least the company had agreed they will replace every sprinkler head they break at no cost. Good for them but crazy that they would break any sprinkler head if they were careful. We even have donuts for each head so it is clear where they are at.

It seems that since we are absentee owners and don't have personal eyes on the job they are doing, the companies aren't concerned about the quality of their work.

Appreciate any recommendations on lawn care companies who are reliable and thorough for mowing (really want a push mower in our yard), edging, trimming, weeding, hedge trimming. A bonus would be if we could get the same company to do the lawn fertilization and pest control (had Massey's do the fertilization/pest....they did a poor job plus lied to us when we were there questioning the condition of the lawn).

Also looking for someone reliable who performs yearly/semi annual irrigation maintenance as it seems the reclaimed water causes issues with plugging the sprinkler heads, something that we have never had to deal with our irrigation system here in Alabama.

[lanabanana73]

I feel your pain. Will await other's responses.

[ljarnold]

We use a lawn service owned by an individual in The Villages. His name is Jim Albers and his company is Acadian Lawn Care
352-307-0921 We have been very happy with his service. He has installed oudoor lighting for us, landscaped, fertilized, trimmed bushes and trees and also has adjusted and repaired my sprinkler system when needed. We trust him completely and he always lets us know how things are going when we are away or when it has been rented. Its nice to have the same people coming every time and a quick email or call if he has a question for us. Linda

[njbchbum]

We also use a service owned by a Villager. Don Harren 352-552-8446

They have trimmed shrubs-tree-palm tree and maintained our sprinkler system for us. Best of all he notifies us of any problems he finds - like if the lawn ever starts looking poorly so I can contact the company that takes care of that - and he calls to let us know the problem has been corrected and is looking great again.

[bookseller61]

I use Southern Sun! Nice young man by the name of Jake. This is a rental property and I cannot move down until I retire. Tenants have been very satisfied and Jake mows , trims, etc. don't have phone number because I've never had to call. He calls me when he thinks I need to be kept up to date on anything worth mentioning. He is young and wants to grow his business. Google Southern Sun like I did and you will find!

All, thanks for the information. Gives us some options to look at.

[Barefoot]

We have been using Falcon Lawn & Pest since June 1, and we are pleased.
Because we are Seasonal Residents, we want a FULL SERVICE company with a pest control license.
Falcon does mowing and pest control, and also weeding, clipping shrubs, etc.
We like their professional attitude.

[normandy]

DON'T USE [ HANSEN @ SON] FROM SUMMERVILLE,HALF THE TIME THEY DON'T COME, BUT CHARGE YOU ANYWAY

[jchase]

Do what I did, I own a corner lot Court Yard Villa I rent out. I took out all the grass put in stone! Looks nice and neat and don't have to worry about those clowns mowing are grass. Most of the time they don't show up anyways!

[Bryan]

My suspicion is that "reliable" and "lawn care company" are oxymoron's.

Also, don't do as jchase suggested - use all stone. You need ARC approval to do that and you won't get it! The Southwest Florida Water Management Agency has ruled that all stone yards are no longer allowed as they were ruining the aquifer by disturbing the natural balance of drainage/soaking for water on lawns. In other words, too much water was running off and not enough was soaking into the ground to replenish the aquifer.

[photo1902]

We use MiCo (352) 748-8011. We've had them over a year. They show up on time, once a week, and I have nothing but positive things to say about the service they provide. Grass cutting, edging, weeding.

[dbancala]

Does Acadian bag the grass? Our contractor blows it in our rocks which causes us more work.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Bryan

My suspicion is that "reliable" and "lawn care company" are oxymoron's.

Also, don't do as jchase suggested - use all stone. You need ARC approval to do that and you won't get it! The Southwest Florida Water Management Agency has ruled that all stone yards are no longer allowed as they were ruining the aquifer by disturbing the natural balance of drainage/soaking for water on lawns. In other words, too much water was running off and not enough was soaking into the ground to replenish the aquifer.

But doesn't appear there is any enforcement......as with most things here.

All: We appreciate your time in responding to our initial post. We will be doing some "interviewing", based on your recommendations, when we stop by the rental house in January or February. We feel that doing the "in person" walk through the yard and explain exactly what we want and expect is easier than trying to do it over the phone.

[GOULD]

We hired" service smart" on 4/24/15 and went back north for summer.
Came back oct 12 . Called service smart asked for dates they service
our lawn . Was told they missed placed are paper work and never came
out. Trying to get are money back $320. Do not return calls.
Keep away from