Gracey extended the patio to create an outdoor entertainment area.

After remodeling her home’s interior, a Kailua homeowner was inspired to continue the makeover theme outside. Surveying her yard, however, she had no idea where to begin.

From the fencing and lawn to the foliage, much needed to be done.

Enter Reliable Landscaping & Sprinklers and designer/project manager Alan Gracey.
“It was pretty much a complete overhaul,” recalls Gracey. “The homeowner knew she wanted a tropical feel to the landscape, and she wanted everything to be low maintenance. She also had a couple of particular plant choices, but, other than that, she had no idea. More or less, she gave me free rein.”

Like a fine artist looking over a blank canvas, the veteran landscaper rolled up his sleeves and went to work.

This 4-foot water urn was placed near the home’s front entryway, providing an alluring focal point for the area.

Hugging a street corner, the property has a unique shape. The yard is rather small, so Gracey was tasked with creating a sense of spaciousness. The goal, he explains, was to create an idyllic courtyard feel by breaking the overall landscape into several sections.

The patio, formerly consisting of a single concrete slab, was extended outward and adorned with an overlay to add texture and pattern. The team set the edging around the lawn with a handsome brick trim. Next, they placed a stately 4-foot water urn near the front entryway. Then, they installed an automatic sprinkler system with separate valves to accommodate the unique watering needs of each area. Later, Gracey and his team installed sods of El Toro Zoysia, a durable, low-maintenance grass that thrives in this setting.

To complete the new look, Gracey added an assortment of colorful plants, including gingers and bromeliads. Spider plants dress up the shaded areas. “The spider plants are not only good ground cover; they also really brighten up the darker areas and bring out the greens,” says Gracey.

The homeowner is thrilled with her new outdoor space, which requires little maintenance except for the occasional weeding and trimming.

For added privacy and beauty, a plumeria pudica plant was placed on a narrow strip of yard along one side of the house. Unlike the common plumeria tree, this plant grows upright and doesn’t branch outward. It blooms continuously with brilliant white flowers.

Red ti plants contribute to the landscape’s tropical motif.

To ensure a great outdoor space like this one, Gracey recommends that homeowners peruse plant books and magazines to see what types of foliage they might want for their yard. “Sometimes people come to me with pictures from magazines, and that really helps to narrow things down,” he explains. “People often say what they want, but, in reality, they might have a different picture in their heads. That’s why actual photos help. I generally have customers go through different books and have them point out the kinds of plants and colors they’re attracted to. They don’t have to worry about the size or whether it’s appropriate for their area – that’s what I do. Then I take the palette that they’ve chosen and try to match that; I’ll either get the plants they want or find a very similar plant that will work better in their environment.”

A plumeria pudica plant produces beautiful white flowers.

Like most true artisans, Gracey doesn’t believe in cookie-cutter results. “I don’t want all my landscapes to look the same,” he says. “Instead, I try to personalize each landscape to the homeowner’s individual taste. Sometimes, it takes a little time. But the end result is worth it.”

This particular project is one such example. Today, the homeowner is thrilled with her new outdoor setting. Even better, aside from the occasional weeding and trimming, the yard requires very little maintenance.

“The best part about this project was working with the client,” says Gracey. “She was very involved and understanding. She was open to suggestions and changes, and every once in a while she would come to me with an idea and say, ‘What about this?’ Working with customers on a project like this is always a joy.”