Is this typical behavior or poor customer service?

After our community planted oak trees by the sidewalks, the HOA flagged blocked walkways. Our landscaper offered a trim, but the result was an unsatisfactory, rough cut. Were we wrong?

mabe its just a miscomunication mess. i feel the landscaper got stuck between unclear hvo demands and homeowner expectations, so ya cant really blame him. a more direct convo might of saved the messy cut, in my opinion.

Hey folks, I find myself wondering if this situation might be more about miscommunication than outright bad service. I totally get that allowing trees to grow naturally near sidewalks is great for the community, but it also puts everyone in a bit of a pickle when unexpected conflicts like this arise. It got me thinking—could the landscaper have done a more delicate job if they’d known exactly what was needed ahead of time? And what exactly did the HOA expect? Sometimes these things seem like a clash of visions rather than just incompetence. Have any of you dealt with a similar situation where the service provider didn’t quite match up to the expectations set by a local authority? I’d love to hear if there’s anyone out there who managed to broker a good solution despite the initial hiccup.

The situation you described mirrors an experience I faced last year. The landscaping company I hired ended up performing an overly aggressive trim after the HOA intervened in a similar project. It appeared that both parties were not on the same page regarding what was acceptable, and as a homeowner, it was challenging to communicate specific expectations effectively. In retrospect, clearer guidelines directly from the HOA and a more detailed contract with the landscaper could have prevented the unsatisfactory outcome. It seems to be a common issue when different priorities collide.