Depending on the severity of the runoff you might want to contact a Civil Engineer. As an engineer myself, with a specialty in drainage and hydrologythere are many issue to consider when dealing with offsite drainage. For instance if you redirect it on to another property it's possible you could be held liable for any impacts tha occur. Just a thought.

Gardenias, I love Gardenias!  Have you tried a fertilizer for acid loving bushes?  You can go to a nursery or even The Home Depot or Lowe's and explain what's going on, and then they can recommend what you should do for them. 

1. Do not think about doing it yourself.

2. Check with a treee removal professional

3. Check with the city in which you live and inquire if there are any restrictions on the size of tree that can be removed.

4. Get two or three prices

5. Check the location of the utities and clearly mark them.

6. Day of work, if they are on your property they have to put cardboard under the their truck to catch oil leaks

7. Double check on what is "leave the work area clean" get this part very clear.

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling

Berkeley Ca

You night try Pine straw instead of wood mulch. It's less prone to washing.

Drainage is a common issue that clients don't anticipate. 

In Georgia a wall retaining over 48" grade requires an engineers stamp.

You might consider terracing and have two or more lower retaining walls. Be aware of hydrostatic pressure and provide adequate weepers to deminish concern for hydrostatic pressure. Good Luck!

The best way to remove the poison ivy would be to get a goat or two. A pair of goats would have the poison ivy in about a day without leaving any chemicals left behind. Keep in mind though that goats will also eat landscaping if you have it. There are different chemicals and techniques to revmoving the poison ivy if you don't want to go the goat route. Keep in mind that if you choose to use chemicals be very careful and be sure to chang clothes frequently through this process and wash your skin a lot. 

Dig it up and send it to me. I love blackberries.

A Grading and Drainage certificate should have been issued by the permitting authority along with an affidavit by the contractor performing the work ensuring the work was in compliance with the approved plans.

Not much info here to make a determination.  Drainage issues can be tricky.  Depends on what the builder was engaged to do (was the contract specific about installation of a certain system, or was it a performance specification?).  If the contractor is a member of a local chapter of a trade association, such as the NAHB or NARI, they typically have ethics panels who can look at the issue and help you determine what you should have expected of your contractor.  Likewise, if your state has a Board for Contractors.

So many people today resort to the threat of negative online reviews, but please be careful how you use those.  That may be unfair to the contractor if there are contractual stipulations or specs he was to follow, and he may have done as contractually required, so trashing him online may not be warranted and can unjustly ruin the well-meaning contractor's means of livelihood.

You may also discuss your issue by engaging a legal professional.  Again, hopefully that professional can review the agreement and determine whether there is cause for pursuit - what obligations the contractor had to you, and whether he has met those or not.

As committed industry professionals, we want to know that our peers are dealing fairly with their clients.  I hope that you can come to understand rights and obligations in this case and resolve reasonably to your satisfaction.  

We are moving to robotic mowers for our business location and my home. This will reduce the labor costs associated with lawn maintenance. We are also converting all of our lawn equipment to electrical. This will stop the noise, the emissions and is clean. We will keep you posted as we progress. MoBots of the Triangle is our company.

Water until established and then cut the water back.  Bermuda needs water, but not as much as some of the other types of grass.  Keep it cut short