Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Forni Landscaping Arts, LLC's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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• 

  Forni Landscaping Arts, LLC

  8051 Brookside Drive Olmsted Falls, OH 44138

• 

  Forni Landscaping Arts, LLC

  PO Box 770785 Lakewood, OH 44107-0036

• 

  Forni Landscaping Arts, LLC

  15614 Delaware Ave Lakewood, OH 44107

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/15/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Contracted Forni Landscaping to perform lawn repair on April 23, 2024. Job was completed that day. Some areas were covered with hay, others with peat, others had no covering. Areas that received no covering failed to sprout grass. Contacted on May 15 asking if it was safe to water and mow - Owner answered yes. Contacted on August 1 stating that many areas had still not sprouted grass. Subsequently emailed on Aug 28 2024, Sep 10 2024, Sep 26 2024, Oct 28 2024, Nov 15 2024, and Mar 19 2025. Received one email reply on Sep 26 stating "I'll have a crew stop by." To date, no visit or further communication from the company has occurred. Ultimately paid $1154.19 for four out of ten areas of my lawn that required patching.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/03/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My husband and I began working with Jordan ***** (*******) in Spring of 2023, specifically lawn installation as well as a new fence for our new build. Multiple in-person walk-throughs occurred with the first (of 2, I believe) lawn install around May 2023. I was aware that she was primarily handling comms with my husband, ****, and I was brought into conversations via email here and there with little consistency. Her responses were sporadic and, most of the time, delayed. I gave her the benefit of the doubt as it was the peak of landscaping season. However, it grew more and more sporadic. Little transparency with terms and conditions of our agreement after a few of our plants died almost immediately after install. The fence portion took much longer than expected, and it felt like we were being led on. Misplacement of thuja plants despite clear direction and confirmation from Jordan's end resulted in re-install and 1 dying with no offer to replace. Once the fence was installed, my husband and I noticed that the gate was broken and had immediately informed Jordan in October 2023. We were told that they would be able to come out to repair in spring when the weather was warmer, but a failed attempt at a repair in May (after MANY follow-up emails with her and her husband, Ryan, who owns the fencing company) warranted a call to the company and persistent following up from my end. I was luckily able to come into contact with the CEO, Josh, who was willing to entertain my case... until it wasn't. Conversations via email began July 2024, and once I shared my lengthy email chains with Jordan and video proof of the broken gate, I was met with silence. The last I heard from Josh was 7/24, and I've followed up via email at least 4 times, even calling him directly w/ a voicemail left but still have yet to hear back. Given the hefty financial commitment to their company, I expected greater customer service and would like to speak with Josh to find a resolution immediately.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/11/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Forni landscaping had the contract for my HOA for about 2 months. They were sloppy, left clippings all over, didn’t cut all the grass, ran into things, damaged property, left gates open and other things. They couldn’t handle the work so that broke the contract. Prior to breaking the contract their employee ran into my brand new fence and destroyed the entire gate. I have emails where they acknowledged this but refused to pay for it or even have the insurance company come out. They kept stringing me along in hopes I would go away.
  My fence was installed weeks prior to then destroying the gate. Picture of before Forni and after Forni to be attached. I also watched there employee run info other things with their huge lawnmower.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/12/2024

  The complaint about the work completed at the HOA is not something I will speak on. The relationship between the HOA management company and the vendor (Forni Landscaping) is a confidential agreement. ******* ***** is a resident of a neighborhood that is managed by an outside management company. All complaints and issues are only spoken about within conversation between said management company and vendor. 

   

  Alleged damage to this resident's gate: The gate was allegedly nicked by a lawnmower being operated by an employee of Forni Landscaping. The alleged damage was a single scratch to a post. When discussions arose, the homeowner obtained a quote for $3200 siting that Forni Landscaping damaged both gates beyond repair and somehow knocked both sides out of level leaving the only option as a full replacement of both sides of a double gate. Forni Landscaping does not agree with this assessment.  Forni Landscaping has yet to receive any proof from this homeowner that this damage was indeed done by an employee of Forni Landscaping including but not limited to, video, photo evidence or eyewitness. The homeowner witnessed said damage when the contractor was nowhere on site and assumed it must've been the landscapers. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/20/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ******* *****
  
  
  
  First of all I had this fence installed on April 23rd.  I have pictures below of the fence when it was completed. It was beautiful.  

  
  
  In May I the landscapers ran into the post putting a scratch and debt on it which is cosmetic however by hitting it they bent the 2 posts on the right side.  I have an email below from the landscapers acknowledging they damaged the fence.  
  
  
  
   

  They didn’t like the cost so now they are going back in their word.  The reason all the posts need do be pulled and replaced is because you can’t just install 2 new posts and get them perfectly aligned with the other two posts.  They all need do be replaced.  

  See the damaged caused by Forni below. 

  I witness their lawn mower slam into my fire pit almost knocking it over.  The fence was brand new and only Forni had access to it.  Their lawn mower aligns with the damage and they acknowledged hitting it.  
  

  
  

  I’m willing to have anyone qualified do the work but I have received the quote from my fence installed so unless they want to accept that I will not be getting another quote.  

  
  

  Forni has so many complaints about this kind of thing they quit in the middle of the season.  

  
  

  I really want to make sure everyone sees the kind of approach they take to damage and how they try to avoid repairing anything they damage.  

  
  

  This is their lawnmower.

  I also wanted to add the quality of work and claims from other residents to my submission.  I will attach pictures of their work.  They left my gates open and clippings everywhere.  They left tire marks all over my new driveway and didn’t even cut the grass.  

   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/02/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In October 2022, Forni Landscaping Arts replaced my whole lawn and refurbished some of my front yard's landscaping. In April 2023, I left a voice mail on John ******* cell phone telling him I didn't think the lawn was coming in like it should. I asked him to come by to take a look at it, but never heard back.
  On July 13, 2023, I called their office and talked to Jamie. I told her that several of the plants they planted didn't survive the winter, and she told me Josh ***** would call me by the end of the day. I never heard back from him either.
  I left a voice mail at the end of August about "Lawn Rust", a disease that develops in weak lawns where the soil lacks nitrogen. I told them not to send their fertlizing sub contractor anymore and if I didn't hear back from them I would file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I bought some fertilizer with nitrogen in it and got rid of the lawn rust but the lawn continued to get worse. I sent a soil sample to a lab and was told my soil needed a lot of nitrogen along with other things. I believe the soil they used wasn't fit for growing anything, It was full of broken glass and sharp scrap metal which I first noticed when my dog cut his paw. Once the fertilizer that came with the Hydroseed was depleted, the grass started to die and became very thin. I purchased the items recommended by the soil testing company and applied them, but frankly the lawn is too damaged already and needs hydroseed reapplied.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/05/2023

  Apologies to hear that I did not receive a message about this complaint. I believe if we continued to fertilize the property that the lawn would've came in thicker and helped with the nitrogen levels but we were requested to stop. The soil we use comes from one of the top suppliers in NE Ohio that produces premium topsoil, so I'm sure the quality of the soil was not the issue. It looks like a continued fertilizing program could solve this problem. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/12/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  
  I was relatively satisfied
  with the lawn until sometime in August when it took a turn for the worse. It
  started thinning and developing bald spots all while your fertilizer guy was
  spraying who knows what on the lawn. I thought it was because of the lawn rust
  but don’t think so anymore. This is why I called and told you not to send him
  out anymore and asked you to come and look at it.
  
  As far as your premium topsoil
  goes, I have never bought topsoil where broken glass and metal were part of the
  mix. If you want me to believe that’s what you spread over my property, please
  send me the receipts. A picture of a small sample we pulled out of the “Premium
  Topsoil” is attached and there’s a whole lot more where that came from.
  
  In August, something started
  killing the lawn and the only things I think could be responsible for it are
  the soil and fertilizer.
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ***** ********
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

  Business Response

  Date: 12/12/2023

  Thank you for the message. We won't be sending receipts of what we purchased. I can't attest that the picture shown came from our topsoil. We install between 50-75 new lawns per season and have never had a complaint like this about topsoil and glass being in it. I'm unsure where that may have come from, but I can assure you it didn't come from the topsoil we brought in for your project. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/18/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  There's no doubt in my mind that the glass and metal was in the topsoil you spread all over my property. A lawn contractor came and said he never has seen anything like this in any topsoil. If won't show me the receipts, then would you please tell me the name of the supplier?  Also, the lawn contractor wanted to know what the hydroseed mix consisted of. If you don't have that information, then please tell me the name of the hydroseed company you used. 
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ***** ********
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

  Business Response

  Date: 12/19/2023

  The seed blend is a Kentucky Bluegrass, Rye and Fescue blend of grass seed. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/19/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  Thank you, but I need to know the percentage of each seed type.
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ***** ********
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/12/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Forni Landscaping did my yard in October 2022. They charged a relatively high charge for the size of the yard and the amount of work. The work ended up a rip-off, literally! They took advantage of my absence at work (I work as a physician), and they put not enough soil, barely any mulch, and left lots of dirt/mud and large rocks in the yard. They kept saying water it. It is July 2023, and the yard looks awful with dead trees and bushes, muddy land, and more than 50% empty spots. Forni Landscaping, especially Jordan’s sales manager/representative, doesn't keep promises or appointments. Now, I have the HOA send me letters to fix the yard. I got estimates from credible landscaping companies where the amount t of work needed is expensive (thousands of $). Forni Landscaping is not returning my calls even! I would rate them 2-3/10. My neighbors told me they initially felt sorry for the quality of work done when I was not present, where it was obvious how poor it was. I tried multiple times communicating with them, and they said they would have a plan to get it fixed, but they did not follow up on that. I paid $12,500 for a small yard, which is now all weed, dirt, and dead trees! It is a shame and a clear rip-off! My neighbors have paid 7-8K for a much better outcome. I gave them three options, and they followed none; refund me, replace the yard with sod grass, and I can pay some reasonable additional cost, or fix it right! They came twice over the past ten months and did a lousy job throwing seeds and leaving! One time their sales manager said the workers were supposed to place soil, but she was surprised they did not! What a business model the management doesn’t know/doesn’t follow up on what the workers are supposed to do and finish! Lastly, they don't follow up on their work, and I am sure they are not proud of it either.
  NB: I do not usually leave reviews, but I have to do that to make them fix their poor-quality work. Forni Landscaping does not seem to have a good reputation, at least in our ******* **** Community.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/12/2023

  The initial lawn and landscaping beds were installed properly. We also have completed multiple projects within the *** **** Community that have lead to praise and extra work by the client due to their satisfaction. This particular client is one of the few clients that does not have an irrigation system. We did roughly quote the cost of this but it was out of his budget. With the work schedule that he has already stated within the complaint, we knew from that, along with the visual outcome of the lawn that it was not watered properly and not nearly enough. We came to over-seed once, it wasn't watered and therefore didn't grow again. I then contracted a separate company that I paid $600 to aerate, slit and over-seed along with fertilize the properly. When they showed up, the client turned them away. I did not receive a refund from this company as well. Nonetheless all of these attempts we made to make this client happy were done outside of our normal operating procedure. We have zero warranty on lawn installations. Nowhere within our signed proposals/contracts is there any mention of a warranty. We were simply doing all of this out of the kindness of our hearts. Once the client trespassed on our commercial property and was found in the back of our yard by one of our employees, we cut communication ties with him. His egregious behavior at that point, paired with him turning away the help that we sent his way has forced us to walk away from the situation. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/12/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  
  The points they raised are mostly incorrect; I watered the lawn a lot, starting from last October, where the water/swage bill was > $400. I continued the same with actually watering a lot (twice a day) with the neighbors witness and advice that I was probably doing it a lot. Simply put, that is incorrect. As far as turning away the aeration company, I asked him of the right sequence of the work needed and his reply was the soil need to be installed first then the aeration and slit/fertilization. When Forni came in June to assess the lawn, after multiple requests, they agreed to install more soil, mulch, then aerate and slit and fertilize. They did not follow the agreed upon sequence and that's why I turned away the aeration company simply because it was not the right step. I consulted with two professional lawn companies who first of all attested to how poorly the lawn was done, and secondly of the steps needed to fix it including first and foremost to install soil. Of note, Forni agreed to replace the dead trees and pushes which they did not follow through on that. When I walked to their commercial property, after them not answering calls or responding back, the manager Don and later the owner Josh have texted me back they will get it fixed and they would like to come in on site to structure a plan for that. Since I the following week was not convenient to meet and the fact they could not come in over a weekend, we agreed to arrange for that later, but since then they never returned any call or text message. I am attaching pictures of their messages that show their intended plan to get it fixed over the period from April through June. Someone can easily tell they were admitting how the yard was not coming along and is deficient in soil, mulch, good trees, grass, etc. Their only fix was to com in and throw seeds that I even took videos of how the birds were eating it because it was not put in a bed of soil. Messages from Jordan who was their contract manager for my project shows the communication clearly. Also, if they considered my visit to their warehouse (where I waited to talk to anyone) offensive, why would they offer a plan to get it foxed and be diligent about it (manager and owner). The owner never came to visit the lawn although I was told by their sales manager (Jordan) he would. She did not answer many communications. Lastly, why in the whole world I would be egregious, as they offensively claim, and be patient over 10 months to work it out with them politely and respectfully. I am a physician and I won't treat any one disrespectfully like that. They are not truthful about the events and the job. It was watered a lot, taken a lot of my time. Any one from BBB can stop by to look at the lawn and assess and ask the neighbors of what they think. Of not, an immediate neighbor who used Froni as well was not satisfied with their work, but at least it was somewhat better. If they are willing to construct a plan to get it fixed and follow through on their promises I may consider that. It is unacceptable to throw back accusations and not admit faults. Another way to resolve this is to have a professional third-party assess and judge. 
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  **** ***** *****
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

  Business Response

  Date: 07/14/2023

  As stated above, we do not offer a warranty on the products that were installed. The proposal/contract that was signed by the client states zero warranty claims. We attempted to send a company to remedy the lawn out of the kindness of our hearts and the client turned the company away. There is nothing further. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/14/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  
  this is not about having a warranty. It is about having a decent and bare minimum work outcome. The pictures and communications/messages show the great deficiencies in the work outcome as well as the lack of adherence to their own words on coming back to fix it! They tried twice with a less than adequate or professional steps to fix the very short lawn they installed! It is a rip off because they installed not enough mulch, no soil enough to have plants survive and not keeping promises to come and follow up and check on the results or the plan to fix it! 
  it is about keeping words and promises. This is not a successful business and words are there in the communities and Forni Knows that! The landscaping companies all know Forni work is not a good one, a rip off and not dependable. The lost they have done to me is doing a very shortcoming work while o was not there being at work. If they are happy with their work outcomes and ethics that is by itself a big problem. I ask BBB to review the images I included as well as the screen shots of communications with them where they promised to come up with a plan to get it fixed (by Josh the owner), Don (manager) and Jordan (Sales manager). I reserve all the rights to sue them if they don’t get the lawn in a better shape! Again, I turned the aeration company away because it was not the right step we agreed upon. Very poor outcome and business commitment. Very sad. 

  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  **** ***** *****
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2023

  As stated again, the work that was completed was done properly and within the scope. The lawn was not properly watered and when we sent help (free help that Forni paid for in-house), the Client turned the help away. He then trespassed on our property, and now just threatened with legal action. Forni will not be responding further to this issue through BBB given the escalation of this matter. Thank you. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/01/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I've been a Forni customer for MANY years. Early this year, in addition to signing up for a new year of lawn cutting, I also signed up for what they call "Spring yard clean-up". I've waited many weeks for them to do that and no one has yet showed up. I have tried to contact the company by email multiple times and no one has replied. I've called their phone number. No one ever answers the phone and all my many voice messages have gone unanswered. In other words IT'S BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE. All I'm trying to do is confirm when someone will do the spring clean-up and I can't get anyone to talk to me. This is becoming absurd.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/02/2023

  ****,

  The spring cleanup was finished prior to May 22nd. We had management inspect the property on May 22nd and sent us pictures confirming it was completed. The only thing we noticed that could cause confusion is the weeds in the planting beds. You declined “bed management” on your maintenance contract which is inclusive of weeding the beds. Other than that, the spring cleanup has been completed and this message has been relayed to you multiple times. Thank you. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/02/2023

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  
  
  ******* *******