Jay Sifford

Jay Sifford

“Magical” might be the best way to describe landscape designer Jay Sifford. Whether transforming a boring suburban backyard into a colorful oasis or laying out hundreds of perennials on a steep mountain slope, Jay is a master at molding natural elements into something breathtaking. His firm, Sifford Garden Design, has won numerous awards over the years and was named by LUXlife magazine as North Carolina’s Most Outstanding Landscape Designer 2021. When he’s not drafting planting plans for clients, you’ll find Jay giving horticultural lectures around the country, tending his new mountain meadow garden, or shopping for rare Podophyllum to add to his ever-growing collection.

  • Stylized Meadow
    Design

    How to Design a Stylized Meadow Garden

    We gardeners, whether we are professional designers or novice plantspersons, can find inspiration in the most unlikely of places. Such was the case when I sat down with a bottle…

  • meadow garden designs
    Design

    Traditional vs. Stylized Meadow Gardens

    Many positive things can be said for planting a meadow garden. These naturalistic designs tend to be a bit wilder thanks to the use of native wildflowers and ornamental grasses,…

  • Design

    Mix and Match for a Meaningful Design

    Cohesion in a garden can be difficult to achieve. A design can appear either too homogenous or too disparate. The latter is especially true for us gardeners who are collectors.…

  • Article

    Regional Picks: Plant This With That – Southeast

    PLANT THIS:   ‘Antonow’s Blue’ honey bush  Name: Melianthus major ‘Antonow’s Blue’ USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11 Size: Up to 8 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to…

  • Design

    Regional Picks: Alternatives to Invasives – Southeast

    Invasive - Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana cvs.)     1. ‘Okame’ Cherry Name: Prunus ‘Okame’ USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9 Size: Up to 20 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full…