Our Reviews

John Russell, and all associates, are first class in every respect and will not disappoint in whatever landscaping project requested. Honest, courteous group who pride themselves in a job well done. I have known John for many years and can highly recommend his services. Smart guy.. who has done some amazing work around my home and office over the years.
With respect... Dr. James M Erwin

We were very pleased with the work John and his crew did for us. Initially he helped us envision the possibilities with a sketch.
Then when his crew came, they got right to work and stayed at the site several days until the work was complete. Besides replacing plants and creating new beds, they put in a French Drain, installed a fountain, hung string lights and built privacy screens.
In the process, they transformed and area with potential into our private garden spot.
Thank you John, from Judy.

They put in 2 pollinator gardens that I have been wanting for a few years. They turned out better than I can imagine! Every one was so professional and nice! They were all good with the pups too 😃! Very knowledgeable and came up with some ideas I did not think of. I would highly recommend 😃!!

John Russell completely transformed our downtown small urban yard with renovation, turf, and beautiful choice of plants, a delight now and will be for years to come for my pups and me!

John and his crew brought my back yard to life. Had significant filling, grading, concrete removal, fence tear down, fence replaced, and sod.

The crew was respectful of my time and property. Everything was left neat and orderly. They provided great care instructions. I'm eager to host my family when it gets warm.

My friends have marveled at how inviting my yard is. I'm extremely happy. There may be a wait time to be on his schedule but it's welllllllll worth it. It feels like a new home.

It’s obvious that quality and integrity are important to John and his company. John has such an eye and made our vision come to life. Couldn’t recommend him more. If you want a trusted company, look no further. His credentials speak for itself! 🙂

I cannot say enough about the masterful work that John Russell created in our backyard. John and his team turned the desolate space behind our house into a garden oasis that we will forever cherish. If you’re looking for quality and expertise, look no further. His credentials listed on the website speak for themself. Best landscaping in the Birmingham area!

I chose John Russell and his company because my initial meetings to discuss a total landscape reno and was impressed by his knowledge of the types of sod and maintenance, as well as some great recommendations as to the new shrubs i wanted installed to replace the tired, worn out boxwood shrubs. His price was reasonable and the work was completed on time. My home looks lovely now, young and fresh. Many compliments from my neighbors. Thank you John, Daniel, David and crew.

Would recommend them to anyone. John and his son were awesome!

We have used Mr. Russell for two projects both of which was fairly large. He was fair with his prices and did very good work for us. He was very concerned that we were happy with what they had done for us.
We recently had some issues with some of the shrubs mostly cold damage and some fungus problems. We asked Mr. Russell if he would come down and look things over in order to give us some advice as to what we needed to do.
He was very happy to do so. He even said he would be willing to replace some of the shrubs even though we did not expect him to do so as he could not help the cold weather, we had last winter.
We have been very pleased with his work and would recommend his company to anyone needing landscape work.

Vivian and Mike Satterwhite

We first worked with John Russell Landscape Architect when we were trying to control rain water run-off that was turning our wooded back yard and swimming pool into a muddy mess after every heavy rain. This happened because our yard was at the bottom of a slope that collected all of the rainwater from six neighboring properties. John developed an attractive and very effective solution to our problem that created two stunning lawn areas and that completely protected our pool. This substantially increased our property value and turned an eyesore part of our property into an area we thoroughly enjoyed.
We worked with John again after we moved to a new more urban setting where we again encountered water run-off problems following several what our city engineer called ‘100 year rains’. John again developed a solution that controlled the water while enhancing both our flower beds, vegetable patch, and lawn. John has a great aesthetic sense and a unique understanding of the power and value of rainwater. Although he can be busy, requiring his clients to wait for their turns, he’s accurate in predicting when he’ll be able to do the work. His cost estimates are detailed and very accurate. And his team of workers do a terrific job and show great respect for your property. When they’re finished, you’ll be ready to entertain the same day. He stands behind his work and has been very quick to come and deal with a couple of minor issues that developed several months after he completed the initial project. He’s our go to resource for all landscape problems.

Johns reviews speak for themselves but i recently had the pleasure of working with him on my backyard. I asked him to come in and design a solution to take care of water runoff that was coming off the hill above me... This issue i was experiencing was made worse by a crew with much less knowledge and expertise than John. John cleaned all that up and designed a project to address my issues and poured a pad for my building tying all of that together. John stays booked up because of the quality of the work he does. Do yourself a huge favor.... Get on the schedule and WAIT on John to get to you. He moved me up when he had someone else delay on him. You will not regret it and you wont be kicking yourself later for going with someone available "right now". I learned it the hard way..

John Russell was very responsive, completed design work in one sitting, and installed a few weeks later. Very transparent pricing and conscientious work.

Mr. Russell spent a few hours with us to talk through our vision, provide insight & direction, draw up the work, and provide a very detailed estimate. He was honest about what would work and not work, but kept space open for us to express what we wanted. It was a collaborative balance. That he guarantees his work and remains available to contact after the work is completed to consult if there's an issue or to provide direction as we "treat" our landscape project throughout the year was a selling point for us. The estimate was tweaked before the project started, so when it was time to settle up, the estimate closely matched the "out the door" costs. The work is beautiful and reflects our vision. When spending a sizeable amount of money for a significant project like this, the bottom line decision point is whether the landscape architect can be trusted, and we felt like we could trust Mr. Russell.

John and his team did an incredible job for us and were super responsive to us throughout the project. I highly recommend him for any outdoor project that you plan to do.

John was responsive in our initial consultation as well as throughout the process of scheduling and completing the project. He was reachable by email and phone when I had questions. His crew was respectful to our property and our neighbors did not have complaints when we asked. John provided good guidance and knowledge which I appreciated during the design of our backyard project. We would request his services for future projects.

Mr Russell assessed our property and our vision for what it could become. We have a detailed to scale blueprint he created. We are now waiting for installation, he completes one job at a time till it is finished with his own experience crew. I can't wait to see the results.

Mr. Russell took an entire day to talk with us about our ideas and preferences. We walked the property and went over design concepts and the best trees and shrubs to use. He then came up with a detailed archetectural drawing. Based on our experience with his design, we will be using him to do the job. He is great to work with.

Our project was to completely transform a 25+ year old, builder grade yard into a functional outdoor space for us, and for our dogs.
John helped us understand the scope of the architecture to rework and expand the space, the horticultural landscaping to meet our vision and the engineering that would be required to
clear and level the land (raised more than 5ft in some places, the new retaining wall is impressive in itself)
He was very clear and direct with us on timing and costs, and kept his word. The project was completed on time despite the "supply chain" issues, which did limit our choice of materials but not reduce the quality of the finished work.
His Team were phenomenal, punctual every day, diligent in their work, artisanal in their execution. It really was a great experience, almost an "HGTV" episode!
John was onsite every day for the entire month, explaining the destruction, construction and landscaping as it happened. His "one job at a time" ethic showed; he was responsive to our questions (and yes, occasional concerns!) and kept a knowledgeable caring demeanor throughout the process that we really appreciated.
Our yard is now something to enjoy and be proud of for the years to come. We have green space for the dogs, a huge patio for entertaining and are still marveling at the little details throughout.
We highly recommend John Russell.

I can’t say enough good things about John and his crew. I had my first consultation with him last November, and all I knew at that point was that I wanted my front yard to be pretty. I am clueless about all things landscape, so he asked me to send him pictures of things I liked. He knew the names of every single plant, shrub, etc that I sent to him and came up with a whole front yard plan for me that day. He put me on his schedule and was due to start my job at the end of May/beginning of June. Fortunately for me, all of the rain over the spring and summer put him a little behind schedule, and during that time I discovered a whole new issue with my backyard. Flooding, standing water, mud, all the gross things. I called him up and he came out to look the very next week. He came up with a whole plan to resolve that problem (French drains, river rock, sod) and the next week sent me an updated estimate that included both the front and back yard. His crew completed my entire job in a little over a week and the end results are beyond any and all expectations. I mean, I knew everything would look great bc I read reviews and knew he was the best at what he does, but I truly thought there’s no way this backyard will ever be not gross. Seriously these guys are amazing, they are hard workers, and they do not leave your project unless or until you are 100% satisfied.

I first talked to John about fixing my yard almost a year ago. I had severe erosion on the side of my house by the woods. The woods drop off into a valley. I’ve been looking at this disaster or a yard for years!!! Finally had to do something about it. After a consultation, John put me on his wait list and worked with me when I had to reschedule a couple of times due to circumstances beyond my control. My side yard and back yard are beautiful now!!!! John and his crew fixed the erosion problem and planted azaleas everywhere!!! It took 5 dump trucks of materials - there’s no way I could have done this myself even though my yard is very small. His guys were great!! Hard workers and fixed some other minor things that I needed done. The final product exactly what I wanted. Great job , 5 stars!!

John Russell transformed our backyard into a beautiful haven. The area started as a plain yard requiring much care and he and his skilled crew turned it into a resort like environment. He is very artistic and was extremely helpful with details such as sizing of pool, patio, pergola and surrounding landscaping. He chose healthy plants which have thrived in their chosen locations. He also repaired a drainage system which has been working beautifully keeping our lawn dry, green and healthy. John Russell and his staff are very knowledgeable and hardworking and I would recommend them for any landscaping project.

John built concrete steps from our driveway to our backyard. The terrain was tricky, and the steps curve around more than 90 degrees. The work was done ahead of time and below budget, and looks great. As a late addition, he added some mulch and plants on both sides that help with runoff issues. We couldn’t be happier with the work he did and look forward to working with him again on future projects.

John Russell Landscape Architect did a project for us in Dec. of 2020.
His company was on time and very concerned about getting it just right for us. Found them to be very helpful. Mr. Russell was a very hand on person and wanted placements to be in just the right location.
The project turned out great. Already thinking about using him on another project we have. Out of all the plant we had only one to not make it. Mr. Russell replaced it very quickly.

John Russell Landscape Architect helped us create both a functional and beautiful patio space. John was both prompt and honest with all communication--he ensured we were comfortable, and up to date with any changes needed. Our project was completed swiftly (despite rain) and seamlessly. We would definitely recommend this company to anyone looking to transform their space!

John and his crew did an excellent job on the project he did. The project was a patio with pavers and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. The work is of very high quality. The final price was within a reasonable margin of the initial quote he gave. The cost breakdown is very detailed which I appreciated. I believe the cost of his services are fair and honest. My customer experience was very positive and would recommend him to anyone.

Ultimately, I believe the quality of the work has increased the value of the home and given us a space to enjoy.

We hired Mr. Russell to replace a rotting timber retaining wall with a segmented wall, and we couldn't be happier. Not only does it look great, but I'm certain that the wall will outlast me. Our yard has a very steep grade with limited access, and our existing wall was nearly touching our deck. Despite these challenges, he and his crew were able to quickly and efficiently remove and replace the wall. He checked in with me frequently and kept me in the loop on what he was doing. I cannot recommend his services highly enough.

We couldn't be happier with the work that John and his crew did at our property in replacing our retaining wall. They were professional, prompt, and left the work site cleaner than it was when they arrived. Great work at a fair price. We highly recommend their services and will without a doubt use them again for future projects.

Our experience in hiring John to design and establish new landscaping, including installing maintenance free composite fencing and making dramatic improvements to drainage, was pleasant and rewarding. John and his team were polite, professional, punctual and tidy. Everyone took great pride in helping transform our side yard from muddy, unattractive space to an inviting, beautiful oasis. As a seasoned landscape architect, John has a keen eye for detail and is creatively flexible, while understanding the importance of frequent communication and feedback to ensure client satisfaction. We are quite happy with the outcome and highly recommend John Russell Landscape Architect and his team.

John’s work was great! We love our patio. And he was dependable, too. Definitely recommend him!

Highly recommend. Great work, transparent and dependable!

John poured a patio for us that transformed our back yard into a space we could really enjoy (since we are spending more time at home during the pandemic, we needed it!). He is an expert, especially with some water flow challenges around our house. We WILL be using him again as we continue next phases of our back yard space.

We especially appreciated how transparent he was with our best options for our space and the pricing. He was always there when he said he’d be and HE ONLY DOES ONE JOB AT A TIME! No lingering jobs.

John Russell just left our house after a weeks worth of very hard work and we could not be happier with the way it looks. We had a bunch of old over grown shrubs and decided to start over. We pulled it all out and John designed a whole new low growing beautiful look with brick around the beds and landscape lights on the house, in several trees and walk way lighting. It looks amazing, better than we could have imagined. We would highly recommend John and his team. They do things right!

Mr. Russell and his crew recently completed a job at my house. They did a wonderful job, and were very accommodating to in-the-moment requests. Mr. Russell was very open about how he quotes and build jobs. His guys worked hard, were respectful, and left a clean job site. The main portion of the job was to install a lengthy french-drain to repair the non-functioning one I had. He walked me thru every step and guarantees his work. I would highly recommend Mr. Russell and would use him again for any future needs.

John Russell is a consummate professional AND a warm, friendly person. Thoroughly knowledgeable in soils, plants, planning and building, he guided us through the process making suggestions which enhanced our property and added further enjoyment to the final outcome.
John and his crew do ONE project at a time. You can expect a bit of a wait for the start date, but once they arrive they stay on site each day until the project is completed to your satisfaction.
They are not the low-cost leader. However, Skilled Labor is not cheap, and Cheap Labor is not skilled. When adding on to your home or property, you want to ensure a quality project. This company brings that and John will not leave until you are satisfied with the outcome.
I highly recommend this company, we were delightfully surprised and impressed with their professionalism, courtesy and skills.

Our backyard exceeded our expectations. John is an oasis of great ideas.

Mr. Russell is an artist!! On our empty, bleak backyard canvas, I asked Mr. Russell to create beauty and happiness that drew birds, butterflies and bees. We envisioned a retreat, an escape from this time we are living through. His creativity and heart poured into his work had a hummingbird and monarch butterflies before the crew had even finished! It is wonderful and indeed, such a happy place. John gave me very detailed instructions in writing in order to maintain the beauty. He was so thorough, skilled and efficient. His staff are as professional as he! What else can I say but that he was our Claude Monet, and we are supremely pleased.
Oh, in addition, his work was incredibly pocket-book friendly!

John and his team were flexible and easy to work with.
They did a good job of landscaping my sloping backyard. They had to address loss of topsoil and drainage issues, and do a lot of planting and transplanting. The backyard is quite transformed!

John and his hard-working 2-man team recently completed several improvements to our back and front yards, including a drainage system, stone steps, sod and bedding improvements. It is so nice to have a real back yard now! And really looking forward to seeing the new azaleas and roses in the front yard in bloom. John was professional and knowledgeable, and completed the job on time and on budget. Enjoyed working with him and his guys!

John did a great job! They were very efficient, and I loved how his work turned out. I would definitely use him again!

John and his team did a great job. They were quick, professional, and we loved the finished product. Would highly recommend!

We wanted to re-do our front yard after twenty years growth. THIS TIME, we wanted to have plantings that we WANTED versus what was available at garden stores when we had time to do yard work. We met with Mr. Russell and came up with a plan that involved some “statement trees” that were difficult to find. He really knows plants!! Every suggestion we made he advised us on and tried to source them. He never discounted our suggestions and made it seem like it was not a problem. We have had to wait for the trees to be installed AFTER his completion of the yard installation but we would rather have what we want than what we can get, now.
JRL’s team showed up when he said they would, worked quickly and CLEANED UP AFTER THEMSELVES!(they took down a 20 year old oak tree, too). We have done many home projects and it is so difficult to find companies that do what they say they will, are easily accessible, will change your plan as you see fit, and clean up when they are done. He also gave us instructions on care and fertilization for success. JRL attention to detail and customer support is a testament to his being in business for 20+ years.

We hired John and his two man crew to landscape/level our backyard and help with water run off. They did a great job with our backyard landscape project. They were able to use large rocks from around our yard to create a beautiful finished product. In addition, on the final day John and his crew made sure to walk us around the yard and explain what all they had done and how the water should flow from down the hill. They ensured we were happy with the results and made sure we didn't have any questions or concerns.

John and his crew have done two jobs for us and both have turned out great. The first project was putting in stone stairs in our front yard. The second project was a massive undertaking to control drainage from mountain water runoff. His two crew members work extremely hard and it shows in the quality of their work.

John recently completed a project for us that included an under drain system and numerous other items and we were completely satisfied with him and his team. The level of knowledge that he brings is impressive and we would not hesitate to contract with him in the future for more work.

We used John and his team to landscape our project. During the initial consultation, he made some great suggestions that greatly enhanced the design. Once things got started, his team worked very hard, did excellent work, and came in under the estimate. Could not be happier with our decision to use John and his team!

John prepared a design to redo the landscaping in my house. It was priced fairly, and the design was intelligently done. The work was scheduled for 60 days out, but John was able to fit this job in earlier. His crew of two got the job done in 4 days. The work included a relatively large amount of construction- a gravel path, new beds, etc. They were careful and clean. In the end, the finished product is very attractive. I am quite pleased with the finished look. I would use John Russell again for another project and recommend him.

John and his crew did great work. Very detailed. Even used some river rock I had in the yard in a functional and artistic way! When we found a few small areas in our yard where the sod needed to be rolled a few weeks later, they came right out and fixed it! Thanks John Russell Landscaping. Our yard is gorgeous.

John Russell just last week finished up some much needed landscaping for our backyard. We were very impressed with John's professionalism, his knowledge of horticulture, his design ideas that would incorporate nicely with initial landscaping. His crew was very prompt, courteous, and diligent in their work. Pleasantly, they completed the job ahead of schedule and were meticulous with clean up. We couldn't have been more pleased with the whole process as well as the finished look. We would highly recommend John for any landscaping needs.

We hired John to completely re-landscape our front yard, pour a new driveway and add a parking pad - the finished product was incredible and working with John and his team was a pleasure. We would definitely hire them again for another project!

We hired John Russell to put in an outdoor brick fireplace and brick and concrete patio. He gave us multiple options and was willing to make changes during the process. His estimate was detailed and comprehensive. He impressed us with his passion and interest in the project. His workers were courteous and professional. The final product is outstanding. We intend to hire him again for another project we have in mind.

We recently completed a large project in our backyard and it came out beautifully. The initial consultation design meeting was very thoroughly done with the results able to be delivered to the HOA.

The lead time for the project was a few weeks which I completely understand based on John’s way of working which I like. I never felt shuffled in order to do another job.

During the job, John checked with us every day to make sure our expectations were being met. Honestly this is the hardest working, most professional crew I’ve ever had.

After the job, we had to have 2 plants replaced under warranty. This was done promptly. I would highly recommend and would use again anytime.

We needed some work done on our front yard. We had an awkward spot in our yard that we didn’t ever know what to do with it. John was very thorough in his design and we love the outcome!

I would highly recommend John. When his team starts the job, they show up, work all day, and come everyday until it is finished. Our landscaping job went really fast, it was under budget, and looks perfect!

I would highly recommend John and his team. His quote was accurate. The actual cost came in a little under budget and we were able to even add in some late changes. They even fixed quite a bit of wiring on exterior lighting that was not part of original quote. They cleaned up the site when they were done and final product looks amazing. John was onsite every day making sure everything was done correctly per our design. We will definitely use John on future projects.

John’s team did a great job at executing our plan and giving us great advice along the way.

We hired John to transform an unsightly hill in our yard. Due to the size of the project, I knew it would be a costly but necessary investment and I was very nervous. My concerns were unwarranted. I can be fickle at times, and John accommodated that by returning to draw up a second design and quote for the project. I have dealt with contractors in the past and felt I had to look over their work with an eagle eye to make sure it was up to my standards. I did not have to worry about this with John and his crew. For example, I noticed a singular tree was a bit crooked one evening after they had left. I didn't say anything at the time, but sure enough the next day the issue had been corrected. You want anyone you hire to have the same high standards that you would have for your project. John clearly has those same high standards. 10/10, would hire again!

We hired John to develop a landscape design for a large hill on our property. After going back and forth on several designs over the course of a few months, he nudged us in the right direction on what he felt would go with the design of our neighborhood and give us the erosion control and privacy we were looking for. He was present on-site during the job giving direction, and his crew arrived on time and always left the property looking clean when they left for the day. His attention to detail was very impressive and he came in right at the estimated quote. I wouldn't hesitate to hire John for any future projects--we were very pleased with the end result.

I am a first time homeowner with little knowledge of landscaping. I called John for consultation and I could not have been more pleased. He provided an itemized summary of everything we discussed, which included fence building, deck work, and many many types of plants that would fit with my style of home. John is very knowledgeable and I highly recommend his services.

Update 4/26/19 - I hired John after the consultation to renovate my front yard. The result was great. The crew was very professional. The work was finished on schedule and on budget. I will definitely work with John on future projects.

We used John Russell and his crew to do a paver patio back in 2012 at our Condo. They did an amazing job with no drainage issues and it was beautiful. We moved last year and we are using him again for a patio extension and some work to our flower beds and landscaping. John does not work on multiple projects at a time. When he starts yours, he is there until the work is done. John also gives you a very detailed estimate. I am definitely a repeat customer for as long as he is in business.

I used Mr. Russell's services on two occasions and wouldn't hesitate to call him again should I need something done. He was on time for both appointments, accurate on the timelines of my projects, and reasonably priced considering the final quality of the work. Maybe I've had bad luck with other contractors in Birmingham, but it was very refreshing working with John and his team.

John did a great job helping my husband and I plan our landscape. He is knowledgeable and really pays attention to detail. Thank you!

John worked with my wife and I to design and create a plan for our landscape. John went above and beyond to help us. I would highly recommend Johns services for both design and build.

I’m writing on behalf of parents as they do not have a google account 🙂

“We have had John Russell do large and small landscaping jobs for us- He and his crew are friendly and professional. John listened to our concerns and made sure we were pleased with every aspect of the design process. They show up when they say, do quality work in a timely manner and leave everything neat and in order. We highly recommend John Russell Landscape Architect”. ~ Allen and Naomi Blackwell.

John and his crew did a phenomenal job turning a muddy, useless backyard into a gorgeous patio and garden area. After years in this house, getting almost no use from the backyard, we love the new space for grilling, relaxing around the fire pit, and greenery.

The work done by the John Russell Landscape group was excellent and on budget. The circular driveway addition is fantastic. Their plant and tree recommendations improved the appearance of our entire home. Thereby making the home look larger and aesthetically pleasing. The entire crew was easy to be around and easy to work with. These people deserve five star ratings.

John Russell changed my backyard from a yard with several very messy areas into a clean, smooth delightful yard. His team took down trees, removed many straggly shrubs, relocated several plants and shrubs, and repaired brick areas. They had a good work ethic and were patient and responsive to my requests for additional work. And John was diligent in his search to find a rain barrel that is a useful and charming addition to my landscape. Norma Aldridge

I highly recommend John Russell Landcape Architect! Recently an enormous tree fell across my swimming pool. It crushed my pumping & filtering equipment, knocked down several brick columns, and damaged several sections of wrought iron fencing. The downed brick columns were still intact so I wanted to reuse them to save money. I also wanted to repair the wrought iron fence instead of replacing it and use an identical section of fence I wanted to remove from another area on my property. Multiple companies came out to give me estimates and every single one said my existing columns could not be reused and the fence could not be repaired even with the additional section of identical fencing I had available. I was shocked at how expensive they were! I started my search over and found John Russell online and was impressed by the pictures of his projects and the great reviews from past clients. I gave him a call and he said he was booked out longer than I wanted to wait but he offered to come look at my job anyway. The first thing he said was “we can reuse those columns and repair the fence to save money on materials and labor.” I said “you’re hired no matter how long I have to wait.” Everyone else said it was a huge job that would take several weeks but John said it was a small job of about two days and he could fit it in when weather wouldn’t allow him to work on the huge project he was on at the time. He drew up a detailed plan and gave me an estimate which was about 50% less than the next closest quote I had. John stays on all job sites the entire time with his crew and supervises every single aspect of the work. He does large and small projects and never has two jobs going at the same time unless there are small projects he can fit in during bad weather that prevents him from working on his current project. John is a perfectionist and can find a solution for any problem. His crew is a fine tuned machine and you can tell they respect and work hard for him. They finished up my job under budget and quicker than projected. I can’t say enough good things about John and his crew.
- Steven Sanders

Russell Landscape knowledge, attention to detail and customer service is the best in the business. I will never use any other landscape company. John continues to answer any question that I have one month later. Amazing customer service..

I hired John to analyze my property and draw up a plan to bring a large outdoor space to its highest and best possible use. The site was full of invasive plants (english ivy, wisteria, privet, etc.), had complex drainage issues, and was completely overgrown. For him to extract those ideas from walking my property speaks to his experience, keen eye, and attention to detail. His drawing gave me the blueprint and the courage to transform my personal Amazon into a Southern Living yard! The project has given my family an incredible space that we will enjoy for years to come. I highly recommend hiring John even if you are a DIY’r like me. Thanks John!

John Russell and his team transformed our backyard from a muddy mess into a peaceful retreat. We have worked with multiple contractors and crews since moving into our house and our experience with John was the most positive and productive. He is very creative, particular, professional, and detail-oriented. He listened to my vision, provided professional input, and together we created a wonderful plan. It was implemented quickly and correctly with fluid communication from beginning to end. His crew had a wonderful attitude and work ethic. I highly recommend John and his team for anyone looking for a quality landscaping experience.

We hired John Russell to address significant water drainage issues and to landscape our entire back yard. He worked with us on design and price and delivered a beautiful backyard that was even better looking than we had hoped it would be. I recommend him for your drainage and landscape needs.

I have worked with John on two projects at my home in the last 3 years and he and his team have done excellent work on each occasion. The work performed included re-sodding the backyard, re-working drainage as well as planting trees and shrubs. John has a wealth of knowledge and is very willing to share his insights on the general health and care of the total landscape. I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of landscape services.

We had a great experience with John Russell and his team. He told us exactly what was going to happen, showed up when he said he would, and got the job done. He designed a great outdoor space for us and we are absolutely in love with it. His team is fantastic, and they only do one job at a time, so all of the attention is spent on you and your house/yard. Honestly, we couldn't be happier and I wish we would have done this project a few years ago.

John is your go to guy if you want your landscaping done right. John has done work for me on several occasions including a complete relandscaping of my front yard and each time the results have been fantastic. We get compliments all the time on our redesigned Italian/Mediterranean style yard which suits our home unlike the mismatched landscaping we inherited. I appreciate that he cares about the quality of his work and isn't like other landscaping companies that will just throw your stuff in the ground as quick as they can. He wants your landscape to look good and thrive as well, which makes sense because he stands behind his work. Highly recommended.

My neighbors must have hated me, the landscaping in the front of my house was way overgrown, scroungy and generally unkept looking. John met with me and designed a plan that fit my needs and took into account the amount of maintenance I was willing to do.
John and his crew arrived when they were supposed to and transformed the curb appeal of my house with beautiful plantings in wonderful beds. My neighbors are speaking to a once more. Thanks John!

John's work is excellent! He has done 2 jobs for us and we couldn't be happier with his work. He has a real talent for spatial organization and laying things out correctly the first time, highly recommend!

John did an excellent job with my project. We had a long-standing erosion problem in my back yard, which he corrected. He was very thorough in his analysis of the issue and worked to make sure the solution would work for my particular situation, i.e. dogs, grandchildren, etc. I was informed up front as to the timeline and he was true to his word. He gave me detailed instructions on how to care for the project afterwards, as well. I am extremely pleased with the outcome and will be contacting him the next time I have a landscaping need.

John Russell and his team of experts just completed a 2nd big job at our house. We are really pleased with the excellent work they did. Multiple trees were cleared from the lot and a garden area was redeveloped for planting all new shrubs and trees. Also, a 50 year-old wall was restored with newly added mortar and shoring up. The landscaping work JR Landscape Architects did added $1,000s to the property value, but more importantly to our pleasure of looking out on the new garden. We will enjoy these improvements for years to come.

John and his crew do fantastic work! A++

Knowledge, experience and a relentless pursuit to satisfy the customer are all qualities that John Russell has shown during the two projects that he, and his crew, have completed for us this year. In addition, John focuses on each project, one at a time, which means the work is completed either on time or ahead of schedule. My wife and I have found John to be very easy to work with and we'll continue to call on him for some future projects that we have in mind.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the work John and his crew did! I’m a novice when it comes to plant varieties and plant care, so I was looking for something low maintenance for my sloped backyard. I really appreciated the time John spent with me to discuss which plants would work best for my situation, and on creating a layout that had a very natural yet groomed look to it, which I love! He also spent plenty of time covering long-term maintenance and care for my plants, which I was really worried about since I don’t have much experience in this area. He charges a consultation fee, but this comes off of your final bill if you end up booking him. You’ll receive a detailed estimate after the consultation, which was very accurate in my case ( I think my final tally ended up about $10 under what he estimated). While you do have to book him a few months out from when the work will be completed since he focuses on one project at a time, he is very up front about this and can give you a good estimate of when he expects the work to take place. I would highly recommend John and his team and would definitely use them again!

John Russell really went out of his way to make us happy. He took our little, plain, bare backyard and turned it into a haven for us. He custom-made me a waterfall feature that gives me the wonderful look and sound that makes me happy and relaxed. Add to that the beautifully-laid pavers, stone bench and firepit, leveling, and plants, and we now have our dream backyard. While I was disappointed the job ended up being 25% over budget, I understand why, and I don't know how it could have been done differently. John was really responsive to any issues or concerns, and made sure everything was done right. Thanks John! I can hardly wait to see everything in bloom next year.

REPEAT CUSTOMER! Knowledgeable, professional, courteous describes John Russell and his crew. Had to wait several months each time, but the high demand speaks to the quality of the work. It was worth the wait!

Incredibly pleased with the whole experience! John was so easy to work with, and it was so helpful to have a professionally made drawing at the end our meeting to submit to the HOA. We had some ideas of what we wanted, and with John's expertise, we were able to fine tune which plants would be best for us. Next step was the installation: he and his workers showed up right on time, every day. Even better was that they finished in 3.5 days (half a day was lost to thunderstorms). Definitely recommend. And, if I have another project, I would only hire him.

I hired John to fix some brick work around landscaping in the front yard. He personally came to the site, took a look at my whole front and suggested my front steps needed some attention, which they did. The work was done just as promised and the cost was very reasonable. I highly recommend him and his team.

John just completed a project at my house (on time AND under budget), and I am very happy with his work. I had some pretty unique ideas/requests that weren't necessarily in John's comfort zone, but it became a fun challenge and the results were amazing. I think he might have been as excited about the project as I was. The best thing about John is his work ethic. He is a true professional, communicates timely and honestly, and acts with integrity. He is a straight-shooter and let me know upfront what his concerns were about my project. My husband and I ended up liking him so much (even after he expressed his concerns about what we wanted) that we were more than willing to take a chance on him and we are so happy we did. I believe John is as much of a Type A perfectionist about his work as I am (and I'm a CPA so I know about being Type A), and it was so nice working with someone who treats your yard as if he was working on his own. I've worked with other landscapers in the past and my experience was the complete opposite. I plan to use John on other projects in the future, and highly recommend him to others.

i struggled with what to say here .John Russell has done two jobs for me . I was happy with the first and had him do a second job for me . I was not as happy with the second job .

We couldn't be happier with the work that John and his crew completed for us! John was great to offer low maintenance solutions that still looked beautiful. He addressed both cosmetic and drainage issues. We would definately use him again for any future landscaping.

John did an incredible landscape job on our entire back yard and patio requiring resurfacing our entire area which was plagued with drainage issues. It is immaculate and we have enjoyed it so much that I am going to get him to work on our front yard now! Thanks, John!!!

We hired John Russell to help us with some problem areas in our yard. Grass world not grow in some shady areas causing soil erosion. John's very professional crew installed grass, built some very nice flower beds with hydrangeas, and laid rock underneath our deck and in a walkway. Everything looks great and should solve our problems. John provided an accurate estimate and was available for questions and feedback. I highly recommend John and his crew.

We hired John Russell to build our outdoor fireplace and back patio. I would highly recommend him and his crew. Very professional and took the time to explain to us what he was doing during each phase of the construction. His attention to detail was very reassuring. He even went the extra mile to communicate with our HOA and make sure everything was compliant. We will definitely be using him again on our next project.

We couldn't be happier with the landscaping work John did for us. He built a stone patio, with an outdoor kitchen and fire pit, in addition to some other grading and sod work for us. His and his crew's attention to details was remarkable. If you want a quality job you can't go wrong using him. Most importantly, I believe him to be honest and straightforward. We never at any point felt like we were being taken advantage of. He has also been willing to come back out when issues have arisen to stand by his work. I highly recommend John.

John fixed a drainage problem we were having in our yard. This is the third project he has completed for us with the highest degree of satisfaction. Not only does the work solve the issue, it looks great. He is cost competitive and meets the schedule he lays out for project work and completion.

I had John Russell handle the landscaping of my existing back yard. I am very happy with the results. He built a large paver patio, re-sodded the back lawn, sodded a large, new section of back lawn, and added some beautiful plants and shrubs. He also took care of some masonry problems on a retaining wall and the front steps of my house. John's employees are friendly and very hard workers. I would heartily recommend John Russell Landscape Architect for any jobs such as this.

John Russell and his crew (Diego & David) transformed our backyard from a mud hole to a place where we can relax and enjoy the jasmine and honeysuckle. I highly recommend them. Thank you.
Bob & Mary Sorrell

I highly recommend John Russell for any landscape job. He designed and built my garden several years ago. It has matured very nicely. My neighbors and visitors always compliment my garden. I appreciate the fact that John has remained available for consultation on my garden plants.

We hired John Russell to landscape a portion of our yard. He came to our home, and after discussion of our goals and priorities, drew up a tentative plan to include plantings, sod, and a walkway. He gave us an approximate start date and an estimate of cost. The work was done on time and on budget. Two aspects of his work are worth emphasizing. First, John has a great eye for the aesthetic. We are very pleased with the “look” of his work. Second, John and his crew are thoroughly professional; they show up on time, work hard, and clean up after the job is done. If you get several estimates for a landscape job, I suspect John’s won’t be the lowest. However, in my view, his estimate will be fair and well worth the expense. I recommend John Russell without reservation. He is a first rate landscape architect; his work is outstanding. I’d hire him again in a heartbeat.