Sterling Tree and Lawn

By far the worst Tree Company I’ve ever dealt with. After doing research, I found what appeared to be a nice family operated local business which I decided to use. Last march I called to have a tree inspected for a fungus disease. Tom came out and gave me an estimate for treatment and tree spraying. I agreed to have the services provided but was told that the weather needed to be warmer. When spring arrived, I was told that it was still too warm to have a fungicide applied but they would perform a dormant oil spraying of trees and shrubs. I was told the day before the application I would receive a call. The day the truck came to spray I never got a call. While getting ready for work the truck arrived and left without performing the dormant oil treatment. When I came outside 5 minutes later i found a Pesticide Application Warning sign in my front lawn saying to keep away for 24 hours and it had a date and time written on it. I looked at all me trees and plants and noticed there was no evidence that the oil was applied. I called Sterling Tree and Lawn and spoke to Jennifer who told me that the service was in fact performed and that I was mistaken. I told her that I was home and that it was impossible for anyone to spray the trees and shrubs during that time. She instructed me to take photos of the Pesticide Warning sign and E Mail the company which I did. She said she would call the driver and find out what happened. I received a phone call shortly thereafter stating that the driver couldn’t apply the oil because of my dog (a 25 pound extremely friendly Collie) in my backyard. I explained that I was home and had they called my phone I would’ve brought my dog in so they could apply the dormant oil. When I asked why there was a pesticide warning sign with the time and date written on it, when the service hadn’t been performed, Jennifer stated that the driver must have forgotten to remove the sign. I asked if they were going to return to complete the services I was told that they already left and would have to reschedule. That didn’t make sense to me since they only left my property 15 minutes earlier and that they should return and finish the job. She agreed and the workers returned shortly and completed the spraying. This was the first of many negative interactions I’ve had with the company. After being very disappointed with the spraying incident I decided to give the company another chance. I called in April and spoke with Tom the general manager and inquired as to when they were going to treat my Oak tree. Tom told me that it was still not warm enough out but they would contact me the following week. The next week I never received a call so I called up and was told that they still weren’t ready to perform the fungus treatment. I explained that the treatment needed to be done before the leaves began to bud otherwise the treatment wouldn’t be effective. Tom ensured me not to worry and that they would be out there to apply the fungicide soon. After another week had past and the tree was already producing leaves I called again and Tom told me they weren’t able to do the treatment because of a «Billing Issue». I told him I had never been billed nor asked for the payment for the dormant oil and that I thought I would be billed after the Fungisol treatment. I told him if they weren’t able to do the treatment they should have just told me and I would’ve found another company. Since the tree was never treated the tree is almost completely dead. Til this day, I have never received a phone call from the owner nor anyone from the company with a reasonable explanation for the poor customer service I received. Never again will I use nor recommend this company. I should have done my research beforehand due to the fact that anyone I’ve ever mentioned Sterling Tree and Lawn to has only had negative things to say.

My husband and I live in Southampton, NY and Sterling Tree & Lawn has taken care of our property for about 5 years. They are excellent at what they do. our lawn looks great all summer long and we even have them do the organic program. My perennial beds are beautiful and healthy. I also have a small hobby ‘orangerie’ that gets more detailed care and they help me with that too. We have other fruit trees and they really take great care of them. Another reviewer wrote that the company is closed on Saturday, while that is true they do make Sunday visits. I find the company very pleasant to work with. I don’t often have to call them because they do their job well. I can only sing good praise of this company.

Called for an estimate. Needed them at my place so my wife and I could be there when estimate or work is done. Well, they don’t work friday afternoons or saturdays. And, get this – Jennifer, their receptionist, told me, rather nastily – they don’t remove or cut down trees. Really?! An arborist who won’t fell a tree? As a result of my original review, the owner contacted me, upset I’d «bashed» his company. I’ve upgraded the review, but stand by my lower grading for the company due to the either poorly-​trained or just plain poor receptionist. If she’d told me the reason why they could not accommodate me, I would have understood and moved on. Sterling does have a nice series of videos and plant/​tree health info, but they aren’t a full-​service company, which they do not state on the website. For fertilization or disease treatment, they may be OK. The «damage control» attempt by the owner was meaningful, but he never addressed anti-​business attitude of the person who answered the phone. Rule #1 for customer service, or making callers into customers: Be polite. Rule #2: Be informative. Rule #3: If you don’t know what you are talking about, put someone on the phone who does.

Quick service, Great price, Neat job.