Aqua-Terra Landscapes

While TOM Foster of Aqua Terra Landscaping is a knowledgeable and capable landscaper, beware of getting any and all agreements in writing including his costs and invoices.
TOM Foster was the only available landscaper at a time when I was ready and able to fix up my sad-looking yards. The first time I met Tom, he drove to my house and took a cursory glance at my front and back yards. He then gave me estimates of "$30K for the front and $50K for the back." My front yard was terrible shape; in sore need of clean-up and attention. At that time I could not find another landscaping service willing to even give me an estimate. I knew little to nothing about landscaping costs let alone gardening and plants. I hired TOM based on his availability. I told TOM I knew nothing about plants and gardening. After hiring TOM he met with me semi-weekly to discuss landscape design possibilities.
At each meeting I told TOM that $20-$25K was my maximum budget and available funds. Tom had shown me a rather elaborate yard design with many different plants, shrubs, trees as well as hard landscaping walkways and beds. I implored Tom to reassure me that his design could be achieved for less than $25K. I had grown fond of TOM's affable character and seeming trustworthiness. He rattled off the Latin names for plants to impress me with his thorough knowledge of botany and landscaping. He also promised me that, " If ANY OF MY PLANTINGS DIE, I WILL REPLACE THEM AT NO ADDITIONAL COST to you."
While TOM beautified my yard, he did so at a cost that came in at over 100% above my stated budget. $40,000! After I finally told TOM that there was no money left, I never saw him again.
Several plantings failed. The most critical of all the failed plantings were over 2 dozen decorative lavender plants he had installed along both sides of a new cement walk way TOM contracted with a buddy to pour. Tom installed a separate, designated underground series of watering pipes or designated irrigation system for all those decorative lavender plantings.
The lavender plants died within months. I asked several gardeners to look at and access the cause for my loss. Each said that the plants were too wet from over-watering. I told ToM that the lavender was dying from being overwatered. I believe that TOM had not factored in that any kind of wind or slight breeze would spill water into the lavender from the adjacent lawn sprinklers. So, with Tom's specially installed underground irrigation for the lavender in addition to water spillage from the lawn sprinklers the plants were dying.
TOM Foster refused to accept or believe that he had made a miscalculation aka "a mistake." And, despite his promise to replace any failed plantings at no cost, Tom charged me $750 for a new set of lavender plants to replace the dead ones. Tom insisted that the dead lavender (among other plantings he had put in) was somehow my fault. I payed TOM to replace the lavender based on my assumption that he was the professional and hence knew best. Then all the REPLACEMENT lavenders plants also died...quickly. I showed TOM that lavender plants which weren't situated near the new lawn sprinklers were thriving. TOM refused to admit that his irrigation systems were at fault. I quit the whole lavender fiasco after a third attempt at replacing them.
Every time a plant or plants died I would text TOM to let him know so that he could make good on his promise to replace any failed landscaping "at no additional cost" I soon grew exasperated by Tom not responding; not even to tell me he was too busy but would get back to me. Several months passed without response from Tom to any of my texts. I grew exasperated with his lack of action and response on top of my frustration and cost with regard the failed lavender, (TOM told me that I was at fault for all his failed and continuing-to-fail lavender plantings). Finally I sent Tom a snarky text alerting him to the fact that the dead plants were still "d-e-a-d." TOM took offense to this text and responded with, "Cease and desist..." He said that my texted pleas were derogatory. He later apologized for saying that but at the time, I was shocked and ended up in tears. I let him know how hurt I felt. Tom continued to send abusive texts accusing me of being the root cause, (it was always my fault) Add childish name-calling statements (which he later apologized for) His reaction was more than unprofessional, it was abusive and Wrong.
So, Tom knows a lot about plants and landscaping. But, watch out for being over charged. Do not take him at his word. Tom puts on a very charming and affable front BUT the guy is a bully. He refuses to admit his errors. TOM has issues with telling the truth and/or keeping his word. Watch out for your bottom line! Insist on a signed contract. No handshake agreements. TOM twice gave me invoices showing only a total owed. He had told me that his "printer was broken." That one is on me. I should have known better.

A quick note to let anyone who may need a landscaper. Tom and his crew are a great group to work with. They have a great eye for creating a new design and using your ideas. Aqua-Terra has done three jobs for us with two being large (at least I think they were large). My next door neighbor also used him on a project. The whole crew is polite well mannered. I wished I had another project for him to do.