Laurel Oaks Nursery & Tree Farm David Erdell, Forrest Erdell, Laurel's Oaks Nursery Failure to perform, argumentative, sleeping on job, incomplete work, overpromise Odessa Florida

Laurel Oaks Nursery & Tree Farm failed to perform to any reasonable standard during the design and installation of a whole yard landcscape renewal project.  Our primary point of contact was Forrest Erdell, Manager & Owner.  Additonal points of contact was David Erdell, founder and owner.  

We made contact with Forrest and set an appoiintment for him to visit our property to map out our current landscaping and integrate a new design.  Basic requirements where the following:  1) Remove all old mulch from old beds, 2) Remove excess dirt as needed to facilitate drainage, 3) Remove, clean & prune existing plants (minus hedges), 4) Install selected new plants purchased from nursery, and 5) Relocate selected plants, and 6) Remulch all beds and install sod in select areas.  Remove all debris. Our estimate included design, labor, debris removal, and material.

During the sales pitch, Forrest was friendly.  He assured us that his family had been in this business for 30 years, and that he grew up learning it.  We discussed the basic requirements above.  We worked with him to select our plant choices.  He worked up an estimate.  We agreed to his pricing, paid a 50% deposit and scheduled the work.  It was mutually understood that some variability in pricing could occurr based on the number of plants needed and the amount of mulch needed.  

On project day, Forrest and his team arrived as expected. The copleted two planter beds as expected.  The remaining beds were left either undone completely or improperly done.  The workmanship was so poor it's difficult to describe in text.  The relocated plants died and the new plants from the nursery have insects and fungus on them.  The fungus has spread into my previously strong grass.  The design was only have completed because they brought insufficient material to the the job site. They didn't complete the preparation or labor part either because of lack of management (the workers selpt in our front yard for over 2 hours without any management oversite).  Of course, when I attempted to inquire directly with the labor, a significant language barrier prevented communication.

Forrest assured us he would bring the remaining material and perform the remaining labor later that week.  We therefore paid the outstanding balance.  Unfortunately, the remaining work was NEVER completed.  We paid 100% for a job only 40% complete.  We reached out on December 11, 2015, and Dave Erdell came by the property.  During this visit, Dave was extremely defensive, argumentative, and flippant.  He immediately started counting plants and berated us in the front yard of our home.  As he continued, he expressed information that was completely contradictory to Forrest's sales pitch.  He absolved his company of any responsbility and left. 

We fell victim to a bait and switch.  The company has been unresponsive our additional attemtps to resovle this issue.  We tried emailing them directly without response.  We sought resolution through Angie's List with no acknowledgment or response.  I am now writing about them on RipOff Report.  

Laurel Oaks Nursery and Tree Farm is NOT an honest business.  The reputation they may have had is NO LONGER deserved.  The owner is belligerent and assumes no responsibility for the performance of his employees.  It was a horrible mistake to trust them for this job.  STAY AWAY.