Utility company causes problem for landscapers aerating lawns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Neighbors blame AT&T for turning seasonal lawn care into a major headache. Some said the company is doing a bad job when it comes to burying service lines and that's making it difficult for lawn crews aerating yards.

Aeration is what landscaping crews that work at King Green do every day in the fall.

They say utility lines not buried deep enough in the ground are causing major problems this year.

"When they bury the cables, we don't know how far down they bury them,” a landscaper said. “We're expecting them to do what they're supposed to do."

There have been complaints about AT&T on a community blog.

"The aeration of my lawn severed the AT&T fiber cable," one person commented.

AT&T sent Channel 9 a statement Monday:

“We are committed to installing network infrastructure with the least amount of disruption possible.  To help avoid accidental cable damage, we attempt to bury cable at least 6 inches beneath the ground, although depending on the terrain or other facilities in a customer’s yard this depth may vary.”

Aeration is designed to pull a plug about two-four inches deep. If the cable is in those two-four inches, there is a good chance it's going to get hit.

Anyone who plans to aerate yards is required by law to call 811 three days before the project.

Cox Media Group