DBL Landscaping

Disappointment is the first word that comes to mind with DBL as our HOA landscape provider. We contracted with DBL for approximately one year and within the first few months it became evident that the services and capabilities presented during the bid process did not align with the service delivered. Many commitments made in their proposal never materialized. Promises made but never kept.

Smart Watering System – Not Delivered
DBL committed to installing smart watering systems with weather stations at no cost to the community. After months of follow-up, we were informed the system was not compatible with our irrigation infrastructure – information that should have been known during the bid process, particularly because we clearly communicated the types of irrigation system we had and the challenges it had presented in the past. Instead, the issue was repeatedly attributed to an external “vendor delay” and the promised solution never arrived.

Real-Time Reporting App – Not Delivered
DBL committed and advertised a Real-Time Reporting app, described as an interactive tool allowing the board to view weekly work scheduled and receive regular updates. However, once service began the Account Manager had no knowledge of such a system, despite the fact it is still promoted on DBL’s website.

Better in 30 Guarantee – Not Honored
DBL’s “Better in 30 days or Don’t Pay” guarantee did not reflect our experience. Our community never looked like they just left. We repeatedly provided feedback, but no meaningful changes occurred. A request to swap crews in hopes of a fresh perspective was denied.

Ineffective Communication and Dismissed Feedback
Although DBL initially welcomed direct communication from the board, once our feedback highlighted ongoing issues, we were redirected to funnel everything through the community manager. This created the impression that maybe the negative feedback might get filtered or minimized and they would not have to deal with it. The board conducted multiple walkthroughs with both the Account Manager and the Director of Operations, yet no improvements followed.

Damage to Plants and Lack of Accountability
DBL severely over-trimmed (essentially hacked) established plants at our front monument – despite us only requesting a standard trim. We were told the plants would recover, citing 40+ years of experience with the crew, but they did not survive. After months of negotiation, DBL finally agreed to replace them but insisted on using much smaller 5-gallon plants to replace plants with over 5 years of growth. They eventually agreed to 15-gallon replacements, but these were still not true restoration of what was lost.

Overall Assessment: There are numerous additional examples of missed expectation and lack of care but the above reflect some of the most significant issues. If you are seeking a landscape company that takes pride in its work, delivers on its commitments, and is responsive to client concerns, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

We ultimately terminated our contract with DBL because it became too time consuming and frustrating to repeatedly provide feedback with no action taken, all while paying for sub-standard service. We made every effort to work collaboratively, but it became clear that our concerns were not prioritized and that accountability was lacking.

DBL is our contracted vendor for our HOA. They do an okay job on some parts of our community, but fall short in others. They are supposed to take care of the weeds growing in our streets and sidewalks on a regular basis, but they definitely do not.
Our community is over 20 years old, and they keep cutting back all our plants, so they look like they are 1 or 2 years old. They aren't a landscape company; more of a company that just uses a trimmer to cut everything down. Our community should have large, lush plants, but it certainly doesn't. I get so upset when I drive by other communities in Litchfield Park and see their mature plants and greenery everywhere. Ours just look like little orbs growing out of the ground.

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