Nashville trees provide beauty, shade, and countless environmental benefits, and they can also enhance a property’s value. But without a system in place to manage and monitor our beautiful trees, they can also present a risk.
A professional tree inventory catalogues species, their health and structure, and their location, so property owners and managers will always have the data they need to make informed decisions around their care. This gives you a proactive framework for reducing the risk of damage or injury from breaking branches and failing tree structures you were unaware of, and for preventing inadvertent violations of local regulations.
What Is the Purpose of Tree Inventories?
Tree inventories prevent reactive tree care through data-driven monitoring. In a tree inventory, a tree’s status is documented, it’s assigned an ID, and its location is noted. Tree inventories are essential for Nashville municipalities, large homeowner associations (HOAs), commercial areas, and campuses. The city has specific, bylaw-driven tree regulations focused on development, construction, and the protection of significant or historic trees. For owners of large residential estates, Nashville’s Urban Forestry division enforces codes requiring tree protection during construction and, in some cases, mitigation or replacement if trees are removed, aiming to maintain canopy ratios.
At The Parke Company, our certified and experienced arborists provide detailed evaluations of the trees in our region. We ensure the trees on a property you own or manage are healthy and sound, that any decisions you make around a tree’s removal comply with regulations, and we help you with care and maintenance decision-making.
What a Tree Inventory Includes
Professional tree inventory goes far beyond counting trees. It’s a structured assessment designed to map, identify, and evaluate every significant tree on a large property. ID numbers are assigned, especially in municipal, urban, and construction-related settings. These numbers are crucial for tracking individual trees and ensuring each tree receives the necessary maintenance and oversight. This information is kept in a database that we can access to clarify a tree’s location, health, and needs.
Identifying species is also critical because it helps manage biodiversity and identify invasive species, such as the Emerald Ash Borer. In a city like Nashville, this invasive beetle is responsible for killing approximately 10% of the city’s and Davidson County’s tree canopy. Part of the inventory services we provide at The Parke Company includes informed planning and other strategies to address this aggressive species.
In addition, we measure trees and assess their structure individually. In Nashville’s urban and suburban settings, mature height classification is especially important where trees are close to power lines or in small, confined spaces. Our arborists record their diameter at breast height (DBH), which is 4.5’ above the ground on the uphill side. We evaluate the overall form and crown condition and check for signs of disease or pest activity. We also look for structural weaknesses, including bark pockets or decay.
To assess and monitor risk, we rate trees based on their potential for failure, especially in areas where failure can be more dangerous, such as sidewalks, parking lots, roadways, and near buildings, as well as in high-traffic areas. If there’s a problem, we can alert you and help you strategize the best solution.
Location data is also documented using GPS or GIS mapping. Each tree is plotted precisely, making it easier to plan maintenance routes, development, irrigation adjustments, and, if replacement planting is required, how to proceed.
Finally, we provide professional pruning, remediation, and, when no other alternative exists, removal services as needed.
All this recorded data forms the foundation for comprehensive and effective tree inventory management.
Why Nashville’s Dense, Aging Tree Canopy Requires Professional Oversight
Here in Nashville, we’re known for our region’s substantial tree canopy. More than half of the city is covered in trees, some of which predate modern developments.
The rapid growth within our region is putting extra stress on this canopy. Much of the canopy exists on private property, where oversight is limited, and enforcement of regulations can vary. Without professional guidance, the risk is that mature trees can be mismanaged, either through topping, which is the practice of cutting large branches back to stubs, or being removed out of convenience or misinformation. This is why working with a certified arborist is vital.
Older trees can also present safety risks. High winds increase the likelihood of limbs falling, and saturated soil can cause trees to be uprooted. Our services monitor these conditions to prevent unnecessary damage to the tree population or to those living in the area. Our arborists provide objective, well-informed, methodical assessments and deliver appropriate services that preserve tree health and structural resilience.
Large and mature trees help reduce stormwater runoff, lower the potential for heat islands, and improve air quality. In terms of economic value, well-maintained trees can increase your property’s value by up to 20%. These trees need care, and to provide proper care, they must be documented and monitored.
How Tree Inventory Services Benefit HOAs, Estates, Campuses, and Commercial Properties
For HOAs and campus environments managing hundreds or thousands of trees, a structured system provides much-needed efficiencies, clarity, and risk mitigation.
Identifying high-risk, diseased, or structurally compromised trees before damage or disasters occur means avoiding emergencies. Proactive monitoring, planning, and care also reduce the risk of personal and property damage and help ensure successful insurance claims.
All these activities are a good way to manage your budget, because instead of cleaning up after a storm or facing a large-scale removal if a tree is uprooted, you can, in partnership with our team, create a phased maintenance plan to allocate funds and activities in the most manageable and responsible way. You’ll also enjoy greater peace of mind, knowing you’re in compliance with local ordinances. In Nashville, where certain trees are protected under the Metro Historic & Specimen Trees Program, being unaware of these regulations and removing a large, mature, or historic tree can result in costly consequences. If you’re looking to remove a tree, we can investigate potential permit requirements and check for tree preservation orders. And since regulations always change, having a team on your side who can clarify these ordinances takes all this off your plate. The only exception to the permitting process is when a tree poses an imminent safety risk. In this case, you are within your rights to take immediate action.
Our services also extend to strategic planting advice. With data from our tree inventory database, we can help you enhance shade, diversify species, and create and maintain a lush, tree-dotted environment on your campus, commercial property, or home estate.
How Inventories Reduce Liability and Long-Term Costs
When tree care becomes reactive rather than preventive, costs can soar. Professional inventory means we’re on top of potential risks and can minimize emergency removals (which can be significantly more expensive than maintenance).
In the event of an insurance claim, having a history of professional assessments shows you’ve done your due diligence and strengthens your case. In a city where storms, ice, and heavy snow are common, and development is happening at a rapid pace, structured oversight of our trees protects everyone.
Schedule an Assessment
At The Parke Company, we provide comprehensive tree services Nashville HOAs, Campuses, and large estates can count on. Our certified arborists have decades of experience serving private properties and municipalities across Middle Tennessee.
If you oversee a large property or your estate’s landscaping includes one, two, or many large and mature trees, consult with our team at The Parke Company. Get the preventive and maintenance services you’ll need to keep your trees healthy, documented, and monitored. Get in touch today!