Claire Hopple | The Parke Company

Three Things to Look out for when Checking the Health of your Trees

March 7, 2024March 21, 2017 by Claire Hopple

Spring is here, and it is probably a good idea to take stock of the trees and plants you have while you are in the process of adding new ones, but that means knowing what to look for. Trees in particular can be tricky, because even though these majestic plants seem to scrape the sky, there are a host of issues that can turn even the mightiest of oaks into a large firewood supply just waiting for the axe to fall. To help you in your efforts, we at the Parke Company put together a handy little guide of three things to look out for when caring for your trees.

Factors to Consider for Tree Health

Water

According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, it does not look like Nashville or most of middle Tennessee will be facing a drought this summer. That is good news, but that doesn’t mean that gardeners and landscapers can forget about paying attention to the amount of water their trees receive. Too much water can lead to root rot or algae growth near the base of the tree, not something anyone wants to see. Not enough can lead to issues with the the leaves and stems, and an increased weakness to pests and diseases. Getting the water amount correct is essential for new trees, specifically saplings in their first two seasons, as they’re still trying to develop their roots. You want the soil to be moist, so that it dries soon afterwards. One thing to help with this is mulching, a service we at the Parke Company happily provide.

Pests

Insects are a major killer of trees, and one of the most difficult to deal with since they usually require extreme methods, such as removing the infected tree. In Tennessee, one of the most destructive insects is the Southern Pine Beetle, which feasts on, as you might expect, pine trees of all species. Although they tend to be found in large pine forests and federal reserves, due to the sheer number of trees for the little pests to feed on. Southern Pine Beetles are not the only pests that might be an issue for you, as Hardwood Borers, a number of species that bore into trees, are also a concern. These are just some of the insects that you might face, and while you can fight the bugs with chemicals and precisely-timed pheromones and other tricks, it can be daunting, which is why insect control is one of the services we offer at the Parke Company.

Disease

Everything gets sick and dies; that’s just a fact of the universe. It can be difficult to identify diseases in trees for those who don’t have the experience or really know what they are looking for. One surefire sign is discoloration in the leaves and in the twigs or large patches of death and decay. For most diseases, such as the various kinds of wilt and Anthracnose, these will be the most common signs.

During the springtime, when the leaves are still sprouting, is the best time to check to see if your trees have been infected any diseases. And if they have been, do not worry because the Parke Company is only a call away to help with any of your tree health needs.

3 Landscaping Alternatives to Regular Ol’ Grass

March 7, 2024March 17, 2017 by Claire Hopple

Lawn with alternative grass

The American lawn is a proud tradition. There’s nothing prettier and more satisfying than a verdant carpet of healthy turf beneath your bare feet. But if you’ve had a lawn for more than a season, you know how difficult it is to grow perfect grass.

In Nashville, the situation is especially troublesome. Wet, cold winters and scorching summers combine (with a little help from clay-heavy soil) to produce lawns that are less than luscious.

If you’ve been continually frustrated with the quality of your lawn, you should know that there are alternatives for you. Green grass lawns, it turns out, are pretty inconvenient for everyone. Not only that, they require huge amounts of water and fertilizer to support, both depleting the soil and contributing to chemical fertilizer pollution in the water table. What’s more, lawns don’t do anything. If you want your property to earn its keep, or at least be less demanding, the Parke Company has three alternatives for you to consider.

Three Alternatives to Lawns

Gardens.

In nature, an open patch of grass would eventually turn into a forest, given adequate water and sun. Grasses would grow long, putting down roots that pull nutrients from deeper in the soil. This would improve the soil and make it a habitable place for shrub and tree seeds to grow. With time, forestation would be the natural result.

We don’t want our lawns to become overgrown, but preserving them in the juvenile grass state is a constant struggle. Turning your front yard into a garden will eliminate this problem, and also create beauty and food for you to enjoy. You can create flower gardens, herb gardens, fruit tree plots, or vegetable gardens. You don’t have to get rid of all your grass, either. Reducing grass area for gardens will mean far less lawn upkeep, as well as more manageable water and fertilizer requirements.

Non-Living Landscaping Elements.

Who says a lawn has to be covered in finicky, helpless grass? Stones, ponds and other non-living landscaping elements are a classic way to make a maintenance-free yard that’s also beautiful to look at and spend time in.

Combination Living/Non-Living Landscaping.

If you don’t want to get rid of all of your grass, why not opt for ambitious landscaping? The Parke Company can create amazing landscaping out of Perennial shrubs and trees which will require little maintenance, in the midst of stones, ground-cover, or mulch beds.

Combining large areas of the above with smaller patches of grass will make your lawn both impressive and easy to maintain. Landscaping is an investment, but it will save you lots of time and money in the long run (not to mention saving you the trouble of pushing around a lawnmower on a July afternoon).
The Parke Company can create any landscaping idea you can concoct. If you’re tired of unappreciative grass that takes your hard work and doesn’t give anything back, it’s time to replace it with more modern lawn design. If you’ve got questions about how this could work for your Nashville home or property, get in touch with the Parke Company today.

3 Ways to Take the Hard Work Out of Home Landscaping

March 7, 2024March 16, 2017 by Claire Hopple

Green plants in a garden

With spring around the corner, it’s time to get serious about your spring and summer gardening plans. If you have never gardened before (or if you have not enjoyed previous attempts), it’s important to learn some methods that can save you a lot of time and energy, while yielding excellent results. Gardening may be a labor of love, but the labor doesn’t have to be grueling. Follow these three tips, courtesy of the Parke Company, and you’ll have much better results come spring (without throwing out your back).

Irrigation – We can’t stress enough how great irrigation can be. With a simple drip hose installed around your thirsty plants, all you have to do every day is turn on your garden hose, and the miracle of modern plumbing will do the rest. Watering with a regular gardening can may not seem like a burden, but it’s hard to make time for it every day. This is especially true when the sun is scorching – the time when your plants need water the most! The Parke Company can help you install a simple drip line that reduces your watering time to seconds, and serves without maintenance for several seasons to come.

Mulch. Mulch is such a normal fixture in American flower beds that we sometimes forget what it is for. Mulching serves a number of purposes. It reduces weeds, by choking them out from light and air. It keeps moisture in the ground from evaporating during the hottest days of the year. It slowly decomposes, allowing new nutrients to flow into the ground. It also protects plants during the winter, like a natural blanket against cold temperatures that could damage roots. You can mulch with woodchips, leaves, pine needles, compost, coffee grounds, or manure (depending on the situation). Pro Tip: at the end of the summer, put down sheets of cardboard over open garden soil, then cover with regular mulch. Over the winter, the cardboard will kill weed seeds, then break down into soil for next spring’s planting!

Fertilize. The Parke Company knows a thing or two about fertilization. It’s the difference between plants that thrive and plants that die. You can fertilize year round. Chemical fertilizers should be used according to manufacturer directions. There are plenty of natural soil additives that can improve your soil likewise. Compost and manure are ideal, though any organic material on the way towards decomposition will work nicely. Depending on the plants you’re growing, additives like bone meal and fish emulsion can get incredible results. It’s hard for soil to be “too fertile”. When in doubt, try to achieve soil that is very dark and fluffy, with worms and other critters living in it. Plants tend to like this kind of growing medium.
The Parke Company wants you to have an amazing bounty when it comes time to harvest time in Nashville, with plenty of beautiful green growth along the way. Even if you’ve had a hard time with gardening projects in the past, these simple techniques should help you find new enjoyment in the hobby.

Create a Sense of Peace and Prosperity with a Backyard Pond

March 7, 2024March 15, 2017 by Claire Hopple

As anyone who has spent any time in Nashville can tell you, the only thing hotter than our summers is our famous hot chicken. One way to fight back against the oppressive heat is with the addition of a tasteful pond. Watch and wonder at how a new pond in your backyard changes not only the way the season affects you, but also the way you feel. Don’t be surprised if you start to spend more time outdoors!

What to Know About Installing a Backyard Pond

Planning the Pond

As with anything worth putting your time and effort into, the first step is figuring out the specifics. Pond design is one of the many landscaping services we at the Parke Company offer, so if you don’t feel like tackling it yourself, we can help. The first thing you want to figure out is what kind of pond you want. Is it going to be a small pond, or a larger one? Is it going to have a fountain in the middle, or a waterfall along one side? There are a lot of options, and that is without getting into whether you want fish involved or what kind of plants you want.

When it comes to the materials, the more money you’re willing to spend, the more durable the quality the product is going to be, in most cases. And since you’re dealing with the installation of things like air pumps and cyclers, you’re going to want something that won’t be an issue for a couple of decades. Of course the work continues after you get your pond set up, since even a small pond will require weekly maintenance, including skimming leaves, algae and other debris from pond’s surface and possibly even something more serious, like patching the lining. If that sounds like a lot of work, don’t worry, because maintenance is another helpful service we offer at the Parke Company.

Enjoying the Pond

Water as an element is representational of change, of movement and of life. In some cultures, a waterfall is representational of success, and the pond itself does a lot to add positive energy to your life. Who doesn’t love the soft noise of a babbling brook, or the gentle bubbling a fountain adds? Do not undersell the impact the sound of a pond is going to have, even if it’s just from blocking other, more hectic noises, like traffic or noisy neighbors.

Having a pond is sure to change the energy and feel of your home in a radical way, but adding new plants, like shrubs or trees, is a great way to take your backyard remodel to the next level. Adding a new pond to your backyard is a lot of work, from designing the pond itself, to finding the right location for it and selecting the best materials, which is we at the Parke Company are here to assist you every step of the way! Spring isn’t going to last forever, so contact us today and let’s get started.

3 Signs that Your Tree Needs to Be Cut Down

August 27, 2025March 15, 2017 by Claire Hopple

Dead tree that needs to be cut down

Trees are the most beautiful plant companions you can have in a yard or property. They serve many purposes, and ask very little. We’ve all enjoyed fruit, shade and beauty from trees, and maybe you’ve even had the pleasure of watching one of your own seedlings growing up into a mature tree.

But all good things must come to an end. Trees have lifespans just like human beings. Disease and disaster can also cut their time short. If you have a dead tree on your property, it can be a danger to nearby people, buildings and power lines. Some diseased trees can spread sickness to other plants, as well.

In short, the time may come when one of your trees needs to be cut down and removed from your property. But how can you tell when the time is right? The Parke Company has a lot of experience in this regard. We can diagnose the problem for you and remove the tree neatly and safely. If you want to do you own tree diagnostics before calling The Parke Company, here are a few signs that a tree is on its last legs.

The Tree is Invading Others’ Personal Space. If your tree is encroaching upon power lines or water pipes, it needs to be cut back or removed. Similarly, if a tree is located too close to your house, it may be wearing out its welcome. Trees pressed closely against houses tend to promote mold growth on the wall area located in their shade. This mold growth, once established, can easily penetrate into the inside of your home, causing a dangerous and costly problem. In either of these cases, removal of the tree will prevent big problems later. Give The Parke Company a ring and we’ll come out to offer you a solution to your problem.

Lots of Dead Branches. If your tree often drops large branches, or looks gnarled and unhealthy, chances are it needs to be removed or heavily pruned. Sometimes trees grow in ways that are not good for their long term survival. The Parke Company can help you decide whether to trim or cut down the tree in question. We can do all the heavy lifting, too.

Signs of Disease. Trees that have discolored leaves, lumpy bark, discoloration, weird growths, or any other unusual characteristics may be diseased. Sick trees can fall suddenly, or can spread sickness to other trees nearby. Sometimes diseases are treatable, but other times it’s best to remove the entire organism.

Removing dead or dying trees can improve the appearance of your yard, and prevent future accidents. Most home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by falling limbs, so removing your compromised tree could be an investment in your finances and safety. It can be sad to say goodbye to a tree, but the Parke Company has a lot of options for new plantings. We can reduce your old tree to a stump in short order, and have your property ready for healthy new green life in just a short time.