3 Reasons To Choose A Commercial Landscape Contractor Focused On Landscape Maintenance

You’re vetting landscape firms to maintain your commercial property, and there’s much to consider. You want a company that can manage all of your needs: installing plants, caring for landscape beds, maintaining the irrigation system and handling weekly (or more frequent) mowing, edging and basic property maintenance. It’s a tall order.

In the maintenance world, you get what you pay for—and there are plenty of companies out there that bid low and promise a lot (they probably don’t know better). Do your homework, and consider the advantages of working with a commercial landscape contractor focused on maintenance. When maintenance is the specialty, it drives design decisions, informs crews’ performance and raises the quality. The result: a landscape investment that retains its value.

Here are a few reasons why you should hire a landscape firm that focuses on maintenance.

Reason #1: Projects Are Designed With A Maintenance Mindset

Right plant, right place—less maintenance. When plant material is properly selected based on site conditions (soil content, sun exposure, weather in general), you’re giving those plants the best chance to thrive.

Landscape companies that consider maintenance as they execute designs are careful to choose plants that can be maintained successfully. Also, the company will better maintain irrigation systems because it knows the ins and outs of the design and system components.

When landscapes are designed with a maintenance mindset, they actually cost less to maintain. It’s a more budget-conscious approach.

Reason #2: Specially Trained Crews Can Troubleshoot Problems

Maintenance crews have an eye for detail and are trained to identify weed and disease issues in the landscape. They have knowledge of plants and irrigation systems and can make recommendations to improve the look of your property.

And, because they are on the property weekly (sometimes more often) they establish a sort of relationship with the landscape. They get to know its plants, they understand the site’s challenges and are committed to keeping the landscape healthy.

Reason #3: Protect Your Landscape Investment Over The Long-Term

Your landscape is a significant investment, and a regular maintenance schedule performed by an experienced landscape contractor is the best insurance on your living environment.

A landscape left unattended can actually decrease the value of the property—it becomes an eyesore. But the property will thrive if knowledgeable landscape professionals carefully maintain it.

As with anything, you get out of the landscape what you put into it. Hiring a landscape firm that focuses on maintenance will help retain its value for years to come.

We’re Focused On Maintenance

Maintenance matters!

Find out how No Ka Oi Landscape Services can help you make the most of your Kauai commercial landscape investment.

Give us a call at 808-335-5887, or email info@nkolansdcaping.com to learn more about what we can do for you.

3 Hidden Landscape Maintenance Costs On Your Kauai Commercial Property

You’ve got big plans for your landscape, and that includes an inspired plant list of flowering shrubs, annuals, perennials and trees that will captivate an audience.

As a commercial property, you recognize that curb appeal translates to attracting customers who spend. A properly planned landscape can be a welcome mat that reels in revenues.

But maintenance can be a costly drain on finances if a landscape project isn’t planned with the after-care in mind. A professional commercial landscape company will go beyond creating the design and lay out a maintenance plan, as well.

In the meantime, here are three hidden maintenance costs to consider—and beware if your landscaper isn’t telling you about these culprits up front.

Hidden Maintenance Cost #1: High-Maintenance Plants

A landscape plan should take into account your site’s conditions: sun exposure, soil content and quality, and overall environmental conditions. On Kauai, your property’s “weather” can depend on whether the site is located on the eastern, middle or western part of the island.

With northeast tradewinds bringing precipitation and ample rainfall to eastern properties, those clouds dissipate mid-island and western areas can be very dry. Plant selection should be based on the property’s microclimate, and on Kauai, every site can demand different considerations.

Hidden Maintenance Cost #2: Too Much Turf

The ideal image of a golf course’s green lawn is not necessarily what nature intended. The reality is, turf can require frequent irrigation and a meticulous lawn care program to manage weeds and disease.

That said, an expanse of the proper turf for Kauai (turf selection is key!) can be much easier and less time-consuming to maintain than small patches that require reel mowing. To reduce maintenance costs, talk to your landscape professional about the best turf type to use on the property.

Also consider enlisting in a landscape maintenance company that can regularly keep the property looking its best through proper cultural practices.

Hidden Maintenance Cost #3: Overgrown Plant Life

No maintenance at all is high maintenance. A landscape in decline requires more care, attention and expense to get it back into shape.

It’s like cleaning a house: If you let it go for months, you’ll pay a cleaner much more to get the home back into nice condition. Then, regularly maintaining it is easier, faster and less costly. The same goes for the landscape.

Property owners that prioritize maintenance and keep the site in good condition all year will avoid a backlog of maintenance tasks (and bills).

We Can Help!

Right plant, right place: That’s our mantra at No Ka Oi Landscape Services. 

Let us help you reduce your property's maintenance costs by designing sustainable landscapes that look the way nature intended. 

Call us at 808-335-5887 or email info@nkolansdcaping.com. Or, visit our website to learn more about the services we offer.

5 Questions to Ask When Planning Your Kauai Commercial Landscape

You’re ready to embark on an overhaul of your commercial landscape.

It’s time to revamp, or completely renovate and start from scratch. This is a big decision, and a wise one. The returns on a landscape investment are many, including: increased foot traffic on a commercial property, and more enjoyable experiences for site visitors, who will be likely to stay on the property longer. They may even spend more money!
Landscaping can also be a competitive advantage over other commercial properties. As consumers, we often choose with our eyes: What appeals wins.

That said, a lot of planning is required before breaking ground. Here are five questions you should ask yourself while planning your commercial landscape.

Start With W’s: Who Will Use the Space — When and Why?

Let’s start with the basics: Who is the “audience” on your property, and why do people go there? Are they guests of a luxury resort who have traveled far to get there? Or, are they shoppers in a retail complex—or individuals going to work at an office building?

Also, consider when the property will be used. This helps when planning features such as landscape lighting and other functional/safety aspects of the property.

What Are The Property ‘Pains?’

Every property has its high and low points. What challenges does your site present? Are there slopes that prompt erosion issues? Is drainage a concern? Examine sun exposure and identify plant beds need attention. (There’s always a reason why: sun exposure, soil content, maintenance, etc.)

Keep in mind, these property pains can be addressed, and an experienced commercial landscape contractor will find solutions, work around any limitations and highlight your property’s assets.

What Opportunities Does The Property Offer?

It’s not all bad, is it? Now, make a list of the property’s positive qualities. What do you like best about the landscape? Is it the showy bed of annuals at the entrance that invites guests inside, or a tall, swanky palm that has been on the property before any person’s foot every set ground there? Do you love the direct sun the property gets, or the shady spaces that provide protection from the heat?

A well-executed landscape design will enhance your property’s best qualities while addressing aspects that are cause for concern. The result: No one will notice those property “pains” you addressed.

What Is Your Landscape Budget?

You probably have a number in your head for what you can afford to spend on the landscape, and if you don’t then now is the time to put pen to paper. It’s never too early to talk budget. What can you afford this season?

Remember, landscaping is a long-term commitment, and once a master landscape plan is developed, projects can be broken down into manageable phases that accommodate your budget.

How Will The Property Be Maintained?

Over the life of a landscape, the design and installation is a small portion. The real work involved comes with maintaining the property so it thrives. Proper, ongoing maintenance is critical for ensuring the health and vitality of the landscape—and protecting your investment. The good news is, a low-maintenance landscape can be designed to reduce the time and cost associated with weekly and seasonal care.

Also think about who will ultimately maintain the property. Is the company that installed the landscape equipped to continue with maintenance? This is a best-case scenario, because you’ll know that the landscape was designed with maintenance in mind. Plus, the team will be personally acquainted with the plants and layout of your property, not to mention committed to its success.

No Ka Oi is the only commercial landscape company to focus on maintenance, but we can also help you plan your new landscape installation with future maintenance and upkeep in mind. Ready to plan your Kauai commercial landscape and not sure where to start? Let No Ka Oi walk you through the process, and help you identify the challenges, assets—and potential—on your property.

Give us a call anytime. Ring us at 808-335-5887 or email info@nkolansdcaping.com.

No Ka ‘Oi: What’s In a Name?

Simply: the best.

That’s the meaning of No Ka ‘Oi in Hawaiian, and we adopted the name for our Kauai landscaping firm because we set high standards for our work. We want our clients to know that we live up to our name. Being the best means operating a business that is relevant, focused on quality and delivers uncommon customer service—we care about every property as if it were our own.

Here's a look at what No Ka 'Oi means to the No Ka Oi Landscape Services staff.

Dedicated To Manuahi

By that, we mean taking the extra measure. We strive to exceed clients’ expectations, and because of that they talk about us. A significant percentage of our work is based on referrals, so we know that many of the clients who hire us do so because of our no ka ‘oi culture.

It’s our job to uphold our reputation by going the extra mile, whether that means suggesting sustainable solutions that will ease maintenance and lessen the environmental impact, or ensuring that every property looks immaculate after delivering landscape maintenance service.

Focused On Commercial Landscape Maintenance

No Ka ‘Oi Landscape Services is dedicated to commercial landscape maintenance. Eighty percent of our work is maintenance, and 20 percent is design/build, mostly enhancements for our maintenance clients, which allows them to work with a company that truly understands their needs.

We aren’t trying to be everything to everyone. We are the only company in Kauai focused on maintenance, and we like installation relationships to transition into long-term maintenance. That way, we know we can maintain the integrity of the landscape.

Committed To Sustainability

Kauai is known as the garden island — it is our responsibility to create and maintain landscapes that are natural and sustainable. This means we must look at new ways of approaching challenges in Kauai commercial landscapes.

We search for ways to lighten our environmental footprint—and our clients appreciate that the sustainable landscape we design and maintain are much easier to care for and look lush because the plants are intended for our island environment.

Training the Best Landscapers

We invest in educating our employees and emphasize safety. This is important to clients who can rest assured that our team members approach every job with care and consideration.

No Ka ‘Oi Landscape Services is a two-time recipient of PLANET’s no accidents/injuries award. That means our company had a perfect safety record for two five-year stretches—something we’re very proud of.

Spreading the No Ka ‘Oi

Looking for “the best” commercial landscape company in Kauai and not sure where to start? We’ve got a good idea. Our priority is educating others about the value of landscape, and we’d love to talk to you about why hiring a contractor with high standards matters to your business.

Give us a call anytime. As we tell our clients, we’re big, we’re beautiful—and we’re nice. Ring us at 808-335-5887 or email info@nkolansdcaping.com.

Don’t Settle: Qualities to Look For In Your Kauai Commercial Landscape Contractor

An attractive, thoughtfully maintained landscape speaks volumes about a business. Natural, healthy plantings roll out the red carpet for guests. Lush landscapes set the tone for visitors arriving at high-end Kauai resorts, and shoppers are more likely to pull into a retail plaza and spend money there if the atmosphere is appealing.

Who will you trust to care for and maintain
your Kauai commercial landscape?

Landscape management goes far deeper than curb appeal. Hiring a landscape contractor to care for your Kauai commercial property is a big decision—and a significant investment, depending on the size and scope of your property.

Savvy business owners in every industry know to focus on their talents, and seek out professionals who are experts in their fields to manage other critical tasks. That means sourcing a reputable, high-quality commercial landscape company that will execute on your goals. (Yes, you should absolutely get a return on this investment.)

But what should you look for when vetting a commercial landscape company? As you embark on the bidding process, or at the very least interview a few firms for the job, here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you make the decision.

Quality #1: Solid Qualifications

You usually get what you pay for, so forget price shopping if your goal is to hire a quality commercial landscape contractor. Instead, consider the company’s portfolio of clients: What other commercial establishments in your area use this firm, and how do their properties look?

 
Look for certifications and membership in professional associations, such as the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). Involvement in the local chamber of commerce shows a commitment to the community. Find out if the landscape company has received awards for their work. This is an indication that the firm is a high-performer.

Quality #2: Problem Solving

A professional landscape management company will generally conduct a property walkthrough prior to providing a bid to get better acquainted with your landscape and its needs. This is an ideal time to ask questions.

Find out how the company would manage a trouble spot. Ask about solutions for an overgrown area, or sustainable landscape choices that will reduce maintenance costs. You want to hire a company that does more than cut the grass and trim back hedges.

A quality commercial landscape contractor will help solve problems and constantly seek ways to improve your property’s appearance and increase its value.

Quality #3: Dedication

Ask the commercial landscape companies you’re vetting to explain how they’ll communicate with you about your property, including progress updates, potential problems and ideas for landscape enhancements.

Set expectations concerning service frequency, and get on paper a commitment to fulfill your maintenance objectives. Look for a maintenance company that specializes in landscape management. You’ll know they are bringing you best-in-class service because maintenance is their sweet spot.

Quality #4: Safety

It’s rarely the first thing you’ll ask a landscape contractor—but it probably should be: What’s your safety record?

How does the company train its crewmembers to stay safe while executing high-quality service? (What about eye and ear protection?) Commercial landscape companies with a clean safety record usually take extra measures when hiring employees, including drug testing. All this sets a higher standard for quality.

Quality #5: Stellar References

Word of mouth is the best way to source a quality Kauai commercial landscape contractor. Why? Because when we’re happy about the work someone provides us, we want to brag about it. If you’re hearing positive feedback about a landscape company directly from another client, take those referrals to heart. (Think about it: We’re more likely to complain about a company than sing its praises—so if another owner is boasting about their landscape firm, listen up.)

Be sure to call references provided by the landscape company. Ask those contacts specific questions, such as: Tell me about a time when you were not pleased, and how did the company make it right? By asking a couple of on-point questions, you’ll gain a more honest perspective of the company’s performance.

No Ka Oi Means The Best

Looking for a commercial landscape company on Kauai — but don’t know where to start? We’ve got a good idea.

Our priority is educating others about the value of landscape, and we’d love to talk to you about why hiring a quality contractor can boost your own company’s profile.

Give us a call anytime. As we tell our clients, we’re big, we’re beautiful—and we’re nice. We can’t wait to talk to you! Ring us at 808-335-5887 or fill out the contact form on our website, and we'll get in touch with you.