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Landscape Quiz
by Gary Mack, TruGreen LandCare
July 2002

Return to the Knowledge Base

Here’s a quick customer service quiz you can conduct by yourself. Think about the last landscaping job you contracted for. Ask yourself the following questions: Did you get what you paid for? Was the job environmentally friendly? Are aquifer restrictions being met? Do the herbicides and chemicals leek into the aquifer? Considering the slow down in the economy, are landscaping costs being kept to a minimum? Do sprinklers sit 4” above ground level, causing them to be hit when grass is mowed? Are there more weeds than mulch in your flower beds? Is grass yellow and thin, with brown patches? Are water bills high? Are your shrubs not trimmed, or trimmed to look like a spiked haircut? Are shrubs infested with bugs and mildew? Did the landscape company cause the damage, but lack liability insurance? Do you ask yourself, “Why can’t I deal with the same person all the time, and receive prompt service?” Do you have a salesperson in your face jumping up and down trying to sell you landscape services and you saw him selling phones only last week?

Never presume you are receiving something you need, or that you are receiving something extra. Be cautious. Ask questions. Check the bids, and be sure to compare apples to apples. The cheapest is not always the best. Landscaping that is wrong can only cost you more money, and maintenance companies cannot be expected to perform miracles. When you are in doubt about a company or a recommendation, you may contact the extension agent or a consultant. They can be most helpful, and are up to date on new technologies. A dark, plush, carpet of green, with flowing shrubs and trees, shows pride and professionalism in your property. Just think, if first impressions are everything, does your property’s landscaping reflect your attitude toward your clients?

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