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Spark New Landscape Ideas
Dive into our blog and discover inspiring ideas, expert tips, and creative solutions for all things landscape design and maintenance. Whether you’re dreaming of a lush oasis or a sleek outdoor living space, our posts will guide you every step of the way.
Water-Conscious Landscaping
Maintaining a lush and vibrant landscape requires careful consideration of water usage, especially for homeowners in regions where water is scarce or expensive. As stewards of our environment, it’s crucial for us to be mindful of how we allocate water usage in the landscape.
Watering Restrictions
On Friday, September 15, 2023, the York Water Company announced a Mandatory Non-Essential Water Use Restriction in all areas served by the York Water Company in Adams, Franklin, and York Counties. This mandatory restriction comes as our region suffers from an annual rainfall deficit of over 12”, to date.
Planting Today – Planning for the Future
Plants grow, and that’s a good thing! One unique challenge when designing and installing new landscape plantings for your property is to design not just for right now but for years down the road as well. Overgrown landscapes are unsightly, and we often see properties where previous plantings were installed to fill in the space immediately, rather than providing appropriate space for the landscape to fill in naturally over time. .
Summer Landscapes Start Now!
Some people really enjoy the winter, and more power to them, but for a lot of us, the dark days of winter are, well…pretty dark. In the depths of winter, it’s always a relief to look ahead to warmer, brighter days in spring and summer. Do your summertime dreams involve spending time outside, entertaining on your patio with friends or family? If so, now is the time to get the process started.
Your Landscape Is a GROWING Investment
Your lawn and landscape are more than just an aesthetic addition to your property. In fact, your landscape is a significant contributor to the value of your home, and the resources you invest in the enhancement and maintenance of your property benefit you both now and in the future.
Planning Ahead for 2024 Landscape Projects
As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, landscape improvements may not be the first thing on your mind. Creating a landscape plan for next year is a key way to maximize your landscaping efforts, and there’s no time like the present to start thinking about new projects.
Fall Is Ideal for Softscaping
Your landscape can be broken down into two main categories: hardscapes, which are all the solid and permanent elements like patios, walkways and walls, and softscapes, which are all the living elements like trees, shrubs, and annual and perennial plants. Over time, landscapes can become overgrown for their space, crowding walkways and blocking windows. If the plantings in your landscape are due for a refresh, fall is a great time to tackle softscape renovations.
Water Usage Restrictions
On Friday, September 15, 2023, the York Water Company announced a mandatory non-essential water use restriction in all areas served by the York Water Company in Adams, Franklin, and York counties. This mandatory restriction comes as our region suffers from an annual rainfall deficit of over 12” to date.
Dealing with Problem Slopes in the Landscape
For maximum strength and durability, pre-cast blocks are likely to be your best bet. They’re engineered to interlock with each other as they’re laid, and most have a built-in “setback” to give the finished wall a slightly slanted angle for added stability.
Enhance Your Evenings with Landscaping Lighting
Lighting can use your larger landscape features and your house itself to create dramatic shadows or silhouettes. Different effects can be created by up-lighting a shrub or tree (shining light from the ground up) or by down-lighting it (shining light down from overhead). The right illumination can also transform an otherwise neglected porch or patio into an inviting living space for warm summer nights.
Drought Conditions Starting Already
Mother Nature can be both a friend and a foe, and when it comes to drought, there’s nothing friendly about her! During hot and dry spells, our lawns and landscape plants can really use our help to get by.
Natural Screens for Protection and Privacy
Today’s backyards have truly become outdoor living rooms, perfect places for entertaining, family fun and everyday activities. However, outdoor living often means we need a little more privacy or protection from the elements. Trees, shrubs or vines can provide a natural solution.
Drainage Solutions For Your Landscape
When talking about landscaping, the word “drainage” is not the most exciting topic. The fact is that drainage is critically important in making the most of your property.
Welcome the World with a Perfect Entry
The ideal entryway landscape directs and leads friends and family to your door in a way that makes them feel truly welcomed. Additionally, entryway landscaping increases your home’s curb appeal in a way that will add to your enjoyment and the value of your property.
Caring for Your Green Investment
Landscapes are one of the hardest-working parts of any living environment. Your lawn and trees clean and filter water and air, produce a tremendous amount of oxygen, provide natural air conditioning in the summer and add to your home’s insulation in the winter. Turf and trees also absorb sound very efficiently and help reduce runoff and erosion. Your landscape can be a relaxing spot in a hectic world.
Timely Trimming
Trees and shrubs are a property’s most prominent features. Unfortunately, they sometimes need to be removed simply because they’ve been allowed to outgrow their designated space. Regular pruning eliminates the need for premature removal and allows you to enjoy trees and shrubs for many years to come.
What's Wrecking Your Landscape?
Could it be your landscape contractor? After all, this is not an easy job or you would do it yourself, right? Besides the shear physical labor involved (pun fully intended), it takes a huge amount of knowledge to properly maintain a mature landscape.
Think Spring! Deck vs. Patio Installation
Winter weather is definitely here, and it’s got the folks at Hively daydreaming about spring! One of the best things about spring is enjoying time outside on your patio or deck. But what if you don’t have a patio or deck? Now may be the time to start considering it!
Commercial Snow Removal Budgeting: Avoid Getting Buried This Winter!
As winter looms closer, snow removal becomes a more immediate concern – specifically, snow removal for your commercial property! Commercial snow removal can be a big expense, especially if it’s a long, cold winter.
Spotted Lanternfly Pest Alert
Pennsylvania and parts of Maryland are under a pest alert for the spotted lanternfly (lycorma delicatula). Native to China, Bangledesh, Vietnam and introduced to Japan and Korea where is has become a major pest of grapes. The invasive spotted lanternfly has the potential to greatly impact the grape, hops and logging industries in PA and beyond. Several counties in eastern PA, including Berks, Delaware and Lancaster counties, are under quarantine. The spotted lanternfly is moving steadily westward across the southern tier of the state.