If you’ve always wanted to start a garden, Hawaii is the perfect place to do it. Because of the state’s temperate climate, gardeners have a fairly long growing season to work with, which means there is more room for error. Just because you have such a wide margin of error doesn’t mean you need to use it, though. Below, the knowledgeable team at Kaneohe’s Hui Ku Maoli Ola Native Hawaiian Plant Specialists shares a few tips for ensuring the native Hawaiian plants in your landscape design thrive from day one.

Do:

Consider Local Rainfall

Oahu may only be 30 miles wide, but the weather on different parts of the island can vary immensely. In fact, all the Hawaiian islands tend to have wetter areas and more arid areas because of their topography and the way the trade winds sweep over the land. Native Hawaiian plants need a lot of water, especially at first, so if you live on a drier part of Oahu—typically, the southwestern portion, from Kapolei to Honolulu—you may need to install some kind of irrigation system for optimum and effortless watering.

Research the Soil

Much of the soil in Hawaii isn’t traditional at all but, rather, red clay. Although certain kinds of plants can thrive in clay soil, it is wise to determine your soil’s pH balance before planting native flowers. This will help you strategize how to make the garden suitable for all kinds of flower varieties, not just those that do well in clay. Adding fertilizer is also essential for ensuring your new garden thrives.

Don’t:

Ignore Sunlight Needs

You might have a particular landscaping vision in mind, but you have to be flexible when it comes to arranging the plants. If there are already trees on the property, for example, you cannot put plants that require a lot of sunlight underneath them. This is a surefire way to prevent certain flowers from thriving.

Break the Soil

Working with the soil when it is wet will leave you with large clumps of dirt when it dries, and it is virtually impossible to grow anything in lumpy soil. It is important not to overwork dry soil, either, though. Doing so will cause the various organic materials it contains to disintegrate faster, which means your plants will have less time to absorb their nutrients and reap the benefits.

If you want to add breathtaking flowers to your property, turn to Hui Ku Maoli Ola Native Hawaiian Plant Specialists in Kaneohe. They have been proud to serve residential clients and commercial landscaping companies for more than 25 years. You can learn more about native Hawaiian plants by visiting their website. To discuss your future tropical oasis or see what’s new at the nursery, call (808) 235-6165.