Jay Sifford Garden Design

I met with three garden designers. We were referred to Jay from a friend and from our initial meeting I knew Jay had the experience and vision to not only execute our project beautifully but also deal with the drainage challenge and other minor issues on our 1 acre lot. We have not been disappointed. I think jay has the somewhat rare ability to wed creative vision and passion with excellent project management. His team is also experienced and skilled. Jay’s design And selection of plants were tailored to our wish list but with and eye for what would thrive in our garden. While we are thrilled to be surrounded by some of our favorite plants Jay surprised us with some unexpected beauties. We are completely satisfied with our finished garden project and plan to use jay again as the need arises and would highly recommend Jay Sifford.

My husband and I built a new home on a lot in a charming small town in NC. When we purchased the property the perimeter of the one acre lot had overgrown shrubbery that had been overtaken with predatory vines. The shape of the lot also created challenges as it was deep and somewhat askew. From the beginning Jay had a vision for how to transform the entire yard into a unique, tiered garden that would encourage guests to want to explore its depths. He was focused on how to blend the landscaping in order to complement the home. He encouraged our input so that the garden would reflect our tastes. Jay communicated well with us in terms of the costs of the project and there were no surprises. He addressed underlying technicalities such as drainage and worked well with the builder. We are asked frequently for the name of our landscape designer and one neighbor has started to refer to our yard as the Garden of Eden. Every view from inside the home invites us outside to experience the magic of the garden. There is no doubt in my mind that Jay has a gift and it was a joy to work with him. He and his team worked tirelessly to implement this design and we are going to feel grateful to them for years to come.

Jay and his team were great. We were very happy with Jay's design ideas. We primarily were interested in Jay to help with water issues. He addressed them and made our backyard beautiful and inviting in the process. His crew worked very hard, demonstrating their expertise in all things landscaping along the way. We certainly would recommend him.

I found Jay through houzz and trusted the reviews...he did not disappoint. My experience was excellent. From the planning to the execution on time, everything was fantastic. I would highly recommend Jay to anyone looking for first class, artistic landscape. I did my entire lake front yard!

Sifford Garden Design worked with us from start to finish. We agreed up front on a budget, and when we were finished everything was slightly under budget. Yeah! He captured the essence of our ideas and goals for the garden in a well written and drawn plan in color. And then installed and built the plan we approved. An excellent experience with Jay Sifford from start to finish! Thank you Jay!

The transformation has been nothing short of magical. Our sloping side yard was beaten down by construction deliveries and equipment. Our neighbor next door removed every tree from his yard leaving us with no privacy and exacerbating the water flowing from his yard into ours. We desperately needed to control the runoff. The best and only solution was to install a dry creek bed. Jay and his team have done a masterful job of beautifully managing a problem area. Each boulder and stone was thoughtfully and artistically placed to create what looks like a natural stream, not a drainage ditch. The guys were a joy to work with and we are looking forward to planting the area for privacy and working with them again.

I specifically was looking for a garden designer, not a landscaper, to “fix my backyard”. I wanted to find someone creative and would pay attention to the details. Jay was the perfect choice. The issues to address included drainage, redefining areas where grass had difficulty growing, and some mature shrubs which really closed off areas near my pergola. Lots of potential but really needed brightening up. I had also wanted to have a fire pit built into the hill near the pergola. All I did was list out my “back yard grievances”, discuss the fire pit idea, and determine my budget. Jay did the rest! He designed a plan and reviewed it in detail, providing photos of all of the plants. Asked for my feedback throughout the entire project. Always kept me up to date on all project phases. When it was complete we had a walkthrough and discussed the care and maintenance of my garden. He was always responsive to my questions and his crew is extremely hard working. He even delivered under budget! He’s a joy to work with and I would hire him again without a second thought!

A beautiful, magical and whimsical design by Jay and his team - we so much appreciate all of their hard work and dedication.

We requested that Jay create a natural, maintenance-free yard and he and his crew did a great job. His idea was to create a sweep of plants that would take eyes to the front door. The yard is very much what we had hoped for in creating great curb appeal for us. We would certainly hire his company again.

I strongly recommend Jay Sifford Design to anyone seeking a landscape designer. He created and implemented an amazing transformation of my outdoor spaces while seeking my input at every step. His knowledge and professionalism was outstanding and he met every deadline set.

Jay and his team have done an amazing job landscaping our property after construction of our home and pool. We knew of his work from friends whose garden we love, and who recommended him to us. He is very collaborative with his clients, but also has a distinct and sophisticated style. The process of honing in on what the clients likes, and what will work with existing design elements and environmental constraints, was a highlight, as Jay really communicates well. He and his team are prompt, thorough, and truly care about their work. We initially hired Jay to do the back garden/pool area, but loved the results so much that we took out nearly all of the front landscaping, reconfigured front beds, and had Jay do our front landscaping as well. He works well with other trades (B and B Pools, Waterworks Irrigation) and is professional and reliable. Though we are still in our first year (installation was completed in Spring 2019), our garden is already looking gorgeous. Each season we love seeing the progression of his thoughtful design choices. Jay and his team have helped us tweak the garden as things settle in (typical of the first year with new construction, especially), and we continue to enjoy working with Jay.

We are more than thrilled with the outcome of our front, side and back gardens. We approached Jay with a vague idea of what we wanted in the back garden, but his vision and final product blew our expectations out of the water. Jay is an artist whose medium is plants. He not only knows plants inside and out, but also has a keen eye for how they will work together and best compliment the space. Our gardens are exactly what we wanted them to be: oases.