Author: Hively
Essential Spring Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips
March 23, 2018Spring has arrived here in PA, and despite the late snowfall it will soon be time to dig out those handy lawn mowers and start your mowing routine.
Before you jump right in and discover your lawn mower isn’t quite as ready to start the season as you are, check out these spring maintenance tasks that can help your mower engine to run strong and keep your lawn properly trimmed.
Here are four simple lawn mower maintenance tips for gasoline-powered mowers.
Team Spotlight: Dave Wildasin
March 20, 2018
We wanted to help you get to know the team behind the great reputation at Hively Landscapes with our team spotlight series. Dave Wildasin, Operations Manager, was kind enough to join us on the hot seat and answer a few questions.
Learn more about what Dave had to say below!
Q: What would you like to be your greatest accomplishment?
A: Making sure my family all make it to heaven someday.
The Fight Against Crabgrass: You CAN Win!
March 8, 2018Every year we receive dozens of calls for help eradicating crabgrass. The problem is that by the time you see crabgrass, you’re already well behind in the battle. You can win the fight, though, with some thoughtful planning and action.
Today we’ll take a look at why crabgrass appears in your lawn, and offer a few suggestions on how you can control it.
Why does crabgrass appear in my lawn?
One of the most common weed problems in lawns here in Pennsylvania, crabgrass releases seeds each summer and then emerges the next spring. Crabgrass seeds are particularly tenacious, as the amount of seed produced is extremely high, and they can stay dormant in the soil for several years before germinating.
Top 5 Things to Ask Your Landscaping Company
February 23, 2018Great landscaping companies do far more than just routine maintenance. While there are countless projects you can hire a landscaping company for, there’s not an unlimited number of companies capable of doing a great job.
How well you research and qualify these companies can mean the difference between a great looking landscape and one that can actually end up costing you MORE money. Picking the wrong landscaping partner may just mean a bad trim job, but in the worst case, you can be stuck with expensive legal bills should an accident occur.
Fortunately, you can screen out the bad apples with a bit of effort. We’ve taken some time to put together a simple, straightforward list of questions you should ask.
- Are you licensed and insured?
Deer Problems? Here’s What You Need To Know
February 8, 2018
Pennsylvania winters and deer problems seem to go hand in hand. According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s website, we had the second highest rate of vehicle accidents involving deer in the country last year. In fact, Pennsylvania residents, on average, have a one in 70 chance of being in an accident involving a deer.
Unfortunately deer don’t just cause damage to vehicles, they also can be quite destructive to your landscape. As the winter arrives and their smorgasbord of food dwindles to scraps, deer will search for anything to satisfy their appetite.
If you’ve found your landscape the target of some hungry deer, you may be interested in some helpful information about minimizing winter deer damage.
Team Spotlight: Matt Vandewater
February 6, 2018
We’re starting a new spotlight series here at Hively, showcasing some of our talented team members. Matt Vandewater, Mowing Division Leader, was first to volunteer to sit down on the hot seat and answer a few questions.
Learn more about what Matt had to say below!
Q: What is your least favorite food?
A: Cheese!
Q: You’re hosting a dinner party. Who are the 3 people, living or dead, who you would invite and why?
Benefits of a Lawn Care Program
February 2, 2018It won’t be much longer until the Hively Landscapes team is out in full force in order to ensure our clients’ lawns are the greenest on the block. Can you believe winter’s on its way out already? Yay!
If you’ve recently considered a lawn care treatment program for your home or business, but haven’t yet committed, let us help make your decision a little easier by reviewing a few of the benefits our customers receive from their treatment programs.
Come Visit Us at the York Builders Home & Garden Show
January 31, 2018Hively Landscapes is proud to be a part of the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the York Builders Association Home & Garden Show. It’s a great event which we’ve found to be both fun and informative. If you’re interested in attending, take a moment to check out the details below.
What?
The 50th anniversary celebration of York Builders Association Home & Garden Show provides everything you need for your home or outdoors. This year will feature over 150 experts, along with stunning landscape displays and product demos for your home. There will also be loads of fun activities for children, making this a truly family-friendly event.
January & February Landscaping Tips
December 14, 2017Happy New Year! With 2018 just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing your landscape to look its best in the spring. While it is easy to hide away from the cold winter weather here in Pennsylvania, be sure to spend some time in January and February knocking out some simple yard work- beyond taking down the decorations you put up for the holiday season.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few helpful suggestions:
January
Believe it or not, January usually has a few nice, sunny days that provide the perfect opportunity to work on your landscape. It is the ideal time to inspect flowering trees and shrubs for broken, diseased, or weak branches and carefully prune them out. It is also the ideal time to prune flowering trees for shape but be careful, pruning is a skill that takes years to learn! You can also trim your fruit-bearing plants to encourage new growth and fruit production.
Up Your Curb Appeal with Professional Landscaping Services
September 28, 2017It’s no secret that curb appeal landscaping can increase the value of your home and the likelihood that it will sell successfully. However, moving is already a stressful time for any homeowner and you may not have the time to sort through curb appeal ideas, let alone implement any of them.
Fortunately, hiring an experienced landscaping company can be an easy and affordable way to quickly increase your curb appeal and your home’s value. These are the services we recommend to homeowners looking to put their house on the market.
Get Your Lawn to Make Some Green
A healthy lawn is one of the most attractive features a home buyer wants to see – and the first that they see. A healthy lawn signals to the buyer that the house has been well maintained during your ownership.
Proper aeration and overseeding can assist in ensuring a lush, green lawn that buyers will adore.
Color a Buyer’s Perspective
Green isn’t the only color that can add value to your home. Curb appeal landscaping that includes colorful flowers, shrubs and trees will add some wow-factor to your yard. Buyers will perceive your home to be more welcoming if there are lively, colorful plants surrounding it.
To make your gardens and flower boxes stand out, request that your landscaper use darkly colored mulch. A darker shade of mulch will add to the perception that the soil is healthy, while also adding a great visual contrast to all of those colorful plants.
Providing a Clean Slate
Hardscaping is an important factor in curb appeal. Begin with a thorough pressure washing of your decks, patios and walkways. Once clean, inspect your hardscaping for any cracks or deterioration. Repair, replace and repaint as necessary. Having your hardscaping looking new and pristine will drive value into your home.
Light It Up
While most buyers will only see your curb appeal landscaping during daylight hours, installing outdoor lighting is a smart, inexpensive way to highlight your home. Landscape lighting helps reassure buyers that your home is located in a safe, desirable neighborhood.
Does your curb appeal need an upgrade? Contact Hively Landscapes about any of these services. Our experts can help you enhance your curb appeal so that your home is ready to sell.