colorful garden and beautiful landscaping

The ROI of Great Landscaping

Beautifying your landscape doesn’t just improve your curb appeal and make you the envy of the neighborhood, it can also significantly increase resale value of your home. Rather than starting inside with expensive home remodels that can leave you without access to your kitchen, bathroom or family room, a better option to explore that provides great ROI is landscaping and hardscaping your property. President-elect of the National Association of Realtors, Walt McDonald, said back in 2003: “When people ask me how they can get strong interest in their property, I always tell them to fix up their landscaping…if a homeowner is reluctant to do it, I tell them they won’t get top dollar.” Even though the quote is more than a decade old the amazing part is that it still holds true, if not even more so in today’s market.

well designed landscape seating areaIf you’re looking for a specific number to expect with regard to ROI for your unique project, you won’t find it. If you do, it’s merely speculation. Your location, the market, nearby neighbor’s landscapes, and potential homebuyer’s preferences are just a few of the many variables that will factor into what you can expect to get back when you do resell your home. One thing that is for certain though, the only way to maximize your ROI on a landscaping or hardscaping project is to have a well designed and installed landscape. Continue reading

7 Rules Landscaping Contractors Must Follow

A landscaped patio/deck areaMany homeowners are unaware of the protections granted to them when it comes to hiring a landscaping company to do work around the home. The fact is any job between $500 and $50,000,000 that includes work on a structure around the home must follow the same laws that a general home contractor would. This includes projects like installs, replacements, improvements or construction of things like driveways, porches, garages, patios, and more.

We pulled out portions of the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act that are most relevant to become accustomed with if you plan on having work done in the future. The truth is there are many “landscapers” who do not follow these requirements that are implemented to protect the consumer. Make sure the landscaper you’ve hired complies with each of these seven edicts or else you’re destined for some serious problems. Continue reading

White Dogwood

May & June Bloomers

If you’re looking to plan your garden for year round color and want to know what some of the best late spring garden options are, you’ve come to the right place! All of the suggestions listed on this page are hardy for our area, so you won’t have to worry about losing them over the winter if you follow our tips and the weather turns sour as it has the last few years. We broke them down into a few common categories to make it easy for you. Continue reading

Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist – Professionals Who Make a Difference

Pennsylvania Certified HorticulturistWhen you make an investment in your landscaping, you need to know the end result is going to be exactly what you want.  A Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist is a horticultural professional with the knowledge and experience to give you the results you want and expect.

PCHs have distinguished themselves by successfully completing a comprehensive study program and examination, which tests their skill and knowledge of both landscaping and handling plant materials. Continue reading

Japenese Maples

Choosing the Best Mulch

As the trusted, award winning landscape contractor for York County and surrounding areas, we often get asked the question, “which is the best mulch?” The honest answer is it depends on your unique situation, since you’ll need to consider everything from color and smell, to soil benefits, longevity, stability, and cost.

The benefits to mulching are undisputed and include:

  • Moisture retention
  • Insulation
  • Weed Control
  • Nutrient Supplementation
  • Controlling Soil Erosion
  • Improved Aesthetics

Depending on which is most important to you, your mulch decision will come down to which choice aligns with your goal. For example if your primary focus is to be aesthetically pleasing and preventing soil erosion, you may go with an option such as a stone mulch. If you want superior moisture retention and would like the added soil benefits, you may choose an organic option like shredded hardwood.

Some of the most common mulches are described below, with a few pros and cons to help you with your next mulch decision. Continue reading

Hively Landscapes Gears Up to Give Back

Working with Temple Beth Israel and their “Doing good for Goode” volunteer program, the employees of Hively Landscapes gives back with donating time and materials to help revitalize the courtyard landscape of the Alexander D Goode elementary school in downtown York city.  Hively Landscapes will close its office and bring all employees to the school to donate 400 hours of labor in one day!  The focus of the day will be to return the landscaping of the courtyard to its original attractive and useful state.  Removing junk trees and shrubs, edging and mulching planting beds, repairing a pond and waterfall, re stacking stone walls and giving the students and teachers a place to use for learning and relaxing.

Landscape Design Team Recognized by the York Builders Association Remodeling Awards of Excellence

  • Jeff Bollinger Wins RAE Grand Award for Outdoor Design
  • James Theisen Wins RAE Grand Award Outdoor Living Space
  • Brian Waltersdorf Wins RAE Grand Award for Outdoor Specialty, the Peoples Choice Award and the JHMyers Judges Choice Award

York Downtown First Award

A Downtown First Award to

York Academy Regional Charter School
32 West North Street York, PA

Downtown, Inc. recognizes businesses, organizations, and individuals who put downtown first through their commitments of time, advocacy and resources.

Hively Landscapes is proud to be part of Simpson Station- A playgound and outdoor classroom

All of us at Hively Landscapes are extremely proud to have been involved in this project and we wish to thank the Simpson family, The Simpson Foundation, The Womens Giving Circle and the many many donors and volunteers who made this project possible. We also want to thank the York Academy board of directors for allowing the Playground Committee and our designers the latitude to design a remarkable and unique play space among landscape and public art. Thank You!!

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