Service
Garden Diagnostics & Rejuvenation
When a tree, hedge, or lawn is declining, we find out why before anything gets replaced.
Yellowing leaves, dieback, thinning canopies, and recurring pests are usually symptoms. The cause is often below ground: compacted or waterlogged soil, nutrients locked up in red clay, damaged roots, or a soil food web that has collapsed. Treating the symptom without the cause tends to mean paying for the same problem again.
How a diagnosis works
- Look at the whole site: exposure, wind, drainage, irrigation, and recent history.
- Examine the plants and root zone: soil structure, moisture, roots, and pests.
- Test where needed: soil chemistry and biology.
- Correct and track: a plan to fix the cause, and dated photos to show whether it's working.
Questions
Common questions
Why are the leaves on my hedge turning yellow?
Common causes on Kauai include waterlogged or compacted soil, nutrient problems linked to soil pH, salt exposure, and root damage. The pattern matters: whether it's old leaves or new growth, the whole plant or one side. A site visit confirms the cause.
Can a tree recover after hurricane damage?
Many can. Trees stripped of leaves often push new growth within weeks if the roots and trunk are sound. Supporting the soil and protecting new leaves from wind and salt helps.
What are the pale winding lines on my leaves?
Usually leafminer trails: tunnels made by insect larvae feeding inside the leaf. Light damage is mostly cosmetic; heavy damage weakens the plant. We look at plant vigor and soil biology as part of the response, not only the insect.
Start with a site assessment
A one-hour visit: we walk the property with you, look at the soil, roots, and plants, and explain what's going on. The $100 fee is credited toward the work if you go ahead.