You don’t need to be a botanist or landscaper to take care of a garden. Dedicated landscape maintenance is enough to help your greenery thrive. Give your backyard and yourself the gift of gorgeous gardens with these expert tips.

5 Landscape Maintenance Tips for Healthy, Beautiful Gardens

1. Choose Level Garden Locations

Plant your gardens on level ground to prevent issues with soil erosion and pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer runoff into nearby waterways. If your property is hilly, use retaining walls to create terraces that promote efficient drainage.

2. Stick to Native Plants

Use plants native to your region for beautiful garden results. Native plants used to tropical soils and climates do much better in Hawaii than those suited to other environments. For example, plant native blooms like Oceanblue morning glories or seabeans.

3. Add Organic Matter to the Soil

Add compost to garden soil for a healthy dose of organic matter. Purchase compost or make your own using fruit and vegetable leftovers, grass and plant clippings, seaweed, hay, and wood ashes. Aerate the pile for best results. Also, familiarize yourself with items that do not belong in your compost to avoid attracting pests.

4. Use Fertilizer Sparingly

Apply fertilizer around plants instead of spraying the entire garden; this gives flowers that need fertilizer the chance to grow and leaves others that may sustain nitrogen burns alone. Use organic fertilizer options instead of commercial sprays to reduce chemical runoff.

5. Defend Against Pests

Learn which insects affect Hawaii flowers and plants the most, such as caterpillars, Cuban slugs, and rose beetles. Again, use natural means of protecting your blooms from these critters, such as garlic and hot pepper combinations for beetles or beer traps for slugs. Keep your gardens free of standing water and debris to further discourage pest infestations.

If you live on Oahu, work with the team at Hui Kū Maoli Ola Native Hawaiian Plant Specialists to maintain your beautiful garden. The Kaneohe-based nursery offers residential and commercial landscape maintenance services and sells more than 100 varieties of native plants. Polynesian-introduced varieties are also available to create lush gardens. Call (808) 235-6165 today to request a free estimate, or visit the nursery online to learn more about their landscaping maintenance services. You can also like the Facebook page for additional gardening tips.