This morning I went outside to see what the commotion was about. I heard a gas powered chainsaw.

I saw, to most of our (the neighbor’s) horror that some “landscapers” were pruning the tall palm tree right over the delicate flowers and pots below. Heavy palm leaves were falling left and right, smashing anything in their way.

I looked at the guys in disbelief. They said they had put away some things and had covered (with falling branches) the rest. It was sad. Rose bushes broken, plants completely wiped, etc. What was even sadder was the complete lack of professional satisfactions these folks were getting out of their jobs. They were there to cut a tree branches and that was it.

It was sad to see the amount of time and energy we had put into the garden and see these people come in and trash it in an hour. What is equally sad is how companies all over the US are shooting themselves in the foot with greed. Everyone wants to save a buck, so pretty anyone is hired. Most of the workers around here have no serious training. They just do the job. In the end, most consumers like me wonder about how much money we save with people like that. Would I ever call these folks to work in my garden? Certainly not. Would I ever recommend them? Absolutely not.

In the end, it reminded me about the whole problem in the coaching are. The title “coach” does not make a coach! The same is true about most “landscape” local companies I see around here. The name does not make the professional. Reputation and training certainly does make a difference. A little professional care goes a long way in the end.