Blooming On Kauai

Every Kauai property is its own microclimate. The winds that brush against the landscape vary slightly compared to your direct neighbors—and are drastically different than property owners on the other side of the island. The soil content is different on your land than the resort or commercial grounds across the way. Rainfall can range from intense accumulation—up to 400 inches annually by Mt. Wai’ale’ale, one of the rainiest spots on earth—to dry and windy on the west side, which is showered by just 1 to 3 inches of rain each month.

Kauai’s landscape includes temperate regions, dry sand dunes and lush river valleys. The island’s high mountains and trade winds largely impact the wide-ranging weather conditions throughout the island.

To make matters more complex, your property’s microclimate is affected by the very buildings that sit on the land and create windbreaks (or wind tunnels) and shady areas. All of these factors are figured into a thoughtful commercial maintenance regimen.

Kauai is surrounded by water, it’s true, but available clean water for drinking, recreational use and keeping our landscapes healthy is limited. We may not experience the water restrictions that other continental states do, but the microclimates here on Kauai prove just how quickly the landscape can go from lush to very thirsty.

At No Ka Oi, water conservation as it relates to our clients’ irrigation is always top of mind. July is officially Smart Irrigation Month, but we’re focused on efficient watering practices year-round. And we’re not just talking about tuning up your irrigation system.

Smart irrigation starts with choosing water-wise plants, then ensuring proper irrigation technology is in place, followed with monitoring the system, and identifying any water-waste culprits. On Kauai, our microclimates affect irrigation efficiency. The east side of the island may get heavy rains, while the dry west side stays parched. Our professionals have a deep knowledge of the island’s weather and how to properly manage irrigation systems no matter where your commercial property is located on Kauai.

Read on for five insights into the plant selection and maintenance expertise our landscape specialists perform to ensure efficient watering.

Imagine one of Kauai’s luxury resorts or retail plazas roping off the property with yellow tape because of tiny unwanted guests that have invaded the property.

“Do not enter: Little fire ant infestation.”

The possibility of this, alone, is a nightmare—and it’s a fight that our neighboring commercial property owners on the Big Island have been waging for some time. The fact is, contained little fire ant infestations have been identified on Kauai, and we want to keep those incidents contained, or eliminate the pest from the Garden Isle completely.

Little fire ants aren't just a nuisance on a commercial property — their continued presence and potential infestation could spell disaster for Kauai's lifestyle: tourism, agriculture and the economy. The best insurance against red ants is to prevent them entirely.

Location is everything when selecting plants that will thrive on Kauai, and the island’s microclimates truly dictate what is the right plant for the right place. Each commercial property must be treated individually: A landscape on the west side of Kauai, which tends to be hot and dry, will require different plants and maintenance than a site on the east side of the island, where salty ocean winds spray gardens.

The “right plant, right place” rule gets tricky when landscaping on Kauai because there are so many different climates and varied weather patterns compacted into a contained geography. It’s practically like condensing the continental United States into a small island.

For a healthy landscape, you’ll want to select plants that can withstand salty ocean spray and high-salinity soil. We know that excessive salt levels can cause dehydration that damages plants. The salt causes water to move out of plants’ roots or leaves, and plants may accumulate sodium or chloride ions that can reach toxic levels. That said, there are plants that tolerate soils with high salinity, salty winds and brackish irrigation.

Landscaping is the welcome mat to multi-family living complexes, and tenants who live in Kauai's many apartment homes desire the same level of curb appeal as owners of single-family residences. In fact, Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO) tenants may hold higher expectations for their landscapes because they know the association hires professionals to maintain the property. It should look nearly perfect and have the lush feel they love about the Garden Isle.

A satisfied tenant who’s proud of her property’s landscape means a happy association manager. So, what does it take to properly maintain Kauai AOAO properties, and what can a landscape maintenance firm that is focused on commercial clients do to ensure that the AOAO is an appealing property for tenants?

Here are some common gripes tenants have about their AOAO landscapes, and how a Kauai commercial landscape maintenance firm should address these concerns. 

Maintaining a beautiful, healthy Kauai commercial landscape on a budget is not an impossible dream. No one has a bottomless budget, so prioritizing maintenance tasks and value engineering a landscape plan is critical for meeting your property expectations overspending.

What is value engineering, you ask? And what does it mean when it comes to your commercial landscape maintenance?

Great landscape transformations are possible without starting from scratch with the design or undergoing major construction. The key to a lush, inviting Kauai resort property is to create a healthy, natural-looking garden environment—only fitting for the Garden Isle.

Guests visiting your Kauai resort want to soak up that island environment, so providing them with the appropriate scenery—a well-maintained landscape—is absolutely essential for winning their repeat business. Think about it: If you were visiting a high-end Kauai resort, how would you react to seeing weeds in flower beds? What if you tripped over an irrigation head or got injured by a falling coconut?

Thoughtful, regular commercial maintenance will keep your Kauai resort property beautiful, safe and business-friendly. Here are four tasks that should be included in your sustainable landscape maintenance plan.