VATLC

We contracted with Virginia Total Lawn Care, LLC (VATLC) for removal of existing garden beds, the creation of new garden beds, removal of two immature trees, and resodding of our small front lawn.

Not only were we completely mislead about the nature of this company, but within moments of starting work, they demonstrated a complete inability or intention to complete the work they were contracted to do. We fired them within 30 minutes.

1. Ernest is the representative of the company which is owned by Robert Huynh, but it is unclear and unlikely that he is a W2 employee of the LLC, so it's not clear that the insurance policy for the company even applies to him. They are likely not fully insured as their website indicates.
2. VATLC has not even fundamental knowledge of good landscaping practice. He did not contact utilities before excavating, he does not own appropriate tools for the work he promises to do, and despite what he promises, he has no intention of doing work to an appropriate standard.
3. VATLC lies about their company. Their representative will promise you that a team will show up to complete the work, but there is no team, no equipment, etc.
4. VATLC is dishonest about how they will complete the work -- For example, they told us they would remove existing sod, till and soil amend, and lay new sod, but they began work by dumping a handful of bags of topsoil on our existing lawn and then started tilling - thus ensuring that the lawn would be filled with the weeds we were trying to get rid of.
5. VATLC is sloppy and unprofessional. They showed up six hours late, did not check property lines and tilled part of our neighbors lawn as a result, they spilled white landscaping materials down the entire block, which didn't wash away for days. They knocked over their own wheelbarrow over and over again onto the street. I could go on and on.