Claire Hopple | The Parke Company

Winter Time is the Perfect Time for Tree Services

March 7, 2024January 12, 2017 by Claire Hopple

Here at Parke we are known for our superior tree care. Our highly experienced ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certified arborists are experts in diagnosing and remedying tree issues, ensuring the healthiest possible environment for your tree landscape. Winter time may seem like a lull in landscape care but the conditions of a Nashville winter are optimal for diagnosing and treating a whole slew of tree issues that will facilitate a verdant and healthy spring growing season. Here’s a list of just a couple of the tree services we offer at Parke to help your trees grow strong and tall for years to come.

Types of Tree Services for Winter

Deadwood Removal and Pruning

The dormant period of time in the winter is the ideal time for pruning and deadwood removal. Arborists commonly recommend winter pruning for several reasons. The dormant season allows for less intrusive pruning and an overall lighter impact on the surrounding environment. A leafless tree also gives our pruners a clear visual of the plants structure providing insight into how the tree will handle high winds and extreme weather in other seasons. This means smart pruning that will help you avoid the potential devastation of downed limbs later on. Additionally, certain trees can only be pruned while dormant to minimize disease contamination. Our arborists will work with you to identify these species and provide you piece of mind knowing that the job is done right and safely for your precious investments.

Tree Identification

Do you know what’s growing on your property? Chances are you don’t have a full grasp on the diversity of tree life surrounding you! We can help. Parke’s expert eyes will provide you a comprehensive survey of all trees on your premises including species identification, location, and condition analysis. This information is helpful in many ways. It can help you develop a clear budget for the care your trees need as well as laying the foundation for developing a comprehensive PHC (Plant Health Care) program. This unique program is a Parke Company exclusive and gives proper fertilization, water and soil conditions to your landscape year in and year out!

Tree Removal

Need to clear some space in your landscape? Winter time is perfect for tree removal. Our expert technicians will remove the entire tree, even grinding down all apparent surface and feeder roots, meaning you can be assured that hidden roots won’t be absorbing valuable nutrients from the soil and robbing the plants you intend them for. Using special stump grinders, we penetrate up to a foot below the surface to chip and mulch the stump and root systems. This leaves you with a fertile space that will be ready for replanting in the coming seasons.

Take advantage of the dormant season with Parke’s superior tree services. While you’re arranging for our expert arborists to assist you don’t forget to check out the many other services our landscape pros offer. We even do snow removal! Be sure to jot down our tree emergency number too (615-201-9999) and keep it handy. Stay warm!

Three Cool Ways to Use your Leaves After they Fall

March 7, 2024November 11, 2016 by Claire Hopple

Reuse fall leaves A great part about fall is enjoying the beautiful Nashville foliage that comes from the season turning cooler and the days getting shorter. And as we already know, the less daylight that comes each day, the more the leaves will start to turn and slowly fall off the branches.

So even though Middle Tennessee is still seeing much warmer afternoons, as Daylight Savings Time comes into play and the nights get cold, we will start to see even more leaves fall into our backyards. But what should we do once the leaves are on the ground? Short from ignoring the leaves and letting them sit on our landscape all winter long, our arborists have come up with some fun and useful ways to use the leaves around you. So whether you hire our landscape crew to do the leaf pick-up or you’re doing the chore yourself, the end-game makes it all worth it. Here are three great ways:

How to Utilize Leaves After They Fall

Mulch and fertilizer

Using the leaves from your trees as mulch and fertilizer is probably the best way to repurpose them. Be sure to talk to a member from our landscape crew about what you want to do. They can not only gather the leaves, but also turn it into mulch and then lay it out over the necessary areas along your landscape. This leaves your landscape prepared for the winter and ready for the spring when it arrives.

Arts and crafts

Another way to repurpose your leaves is to make crafts with your family and friends. The possibilities are endless and it’s a great opportunity to spend some time with your loved ones without too much cost. Use materials you already have on hand such as glue, scissors, add construction paper and see what you can come up with. Maple trees have big and beautiful shaped leaves, which can be a great addition to your project. Consider even adding berries and needles to add texture.

Playground for kids and animals

If all else fails, make your piles of leaves a playground for your children or animals to enjoy (and even you — we won’t judge!) Once enough leaves fall from the branches, let Parke know you want to save the piles around your yard. Once they’re piled high, have your kids enjoy themselves. It’s a free, easy playground that will keep them busy for the afternoon (just remember to check them for ticks after you’re finished).

From mulching to art projects, you have several options at your disposal for using your leaves. Our crew of arborists and landscapers have always been in the business of recycling and this isn’t any different. So as the leaves keep falling from the branches and the weather outside is still nice, get creative with the leaves and enjoy the last month of fall.

Interested in learning more about Parke’s services? Our arborists offer a range of tree care services. In addition, a variety of landscape services are available all year long. For more information, contact us today!

Scheduling Your Services Now, Pays Off in the Future

March 7, 2024October 28, 2016 by Claire Hopple

parke-company-emergency-services-tree-landscape-irrigation-maintenance-blog-Benefits-to-Buying-Larger-Maintenance-Packages-tree-work One of the best things about Parke’s services is that we work with you over the course of many seasons. Should you need tree care in the summer or snow removal in the dead of winter, we have your back. Even though it seems to be getting colder outside and your need for tree care is slowing down, we recommend calling us to schedule the last of your fall services right away. Working with an arborist or landscape team checks off any odds and ends you still have on your list, but it also ensures that you’re covered in the future.

There are so many great benefits to scheduling tree care and landscape services now before it’s too late. Not convinced? Here are three reasons why you won’t regret it:

Emergency services are ready when you need it
The winter season is sneaking up on us and, before you know it, Middle Tennessee will have ice and snow all over the roadways and driveways. That also means your trees will be covered in ice and snow, which can lead to damage of property or blocked roadways. Thankfully, if you are a Parke customer already you will get first priority for winter emergency services. So if a branch falls on your driveway and you’re blocked, our emergency crew at Parke will be at your house in a jiffy, and you can be on your merry way.

It’s one less thing you need to worry during the upcoming holiday season
We all know that the holiday season can bring additional stress and emotion to each and every one of us. That is why scheduling your Parke services now is a great option for the future. Who wants to worry about raking up those leaves, right? It’s one less thing you have to worry about. Call one of our arborists today and get your trees transplanted and those flowerbeds cleaned. That leaves all your attention to enjoying the leaves change, trimming the Christmas tree and carving the turkey.

Bundling services is actually cheaper in the long run
We all like to save money right? Bundling multiple tree and landscape services with Parke ensures that you actually save more money in the long run. Have tree work that an arborist needs to take care of? Have a large landscape that our landscape crew needs to manage? Perhaps you need some decorations for your fall and winter parties you’re hosting this year? If any of these things are what you need, then we suggest calling us today and discussing bundling the services in order to save a little cash. And what better time to save money than right before all the holiday shopping begins?

Our crew of experienced landscape specialists and arborists are certified at making sure that your trees and your landscape look impeccable through the entire year. By scheduling the services now, you are guaranteeing yourself less hassle as the winter months emerge. For more information about tree care services, landscape services, and any other services that Parke offers, give us a call today!

Three Fun Fall Things to Do In Nashville

March 7, 2024October 14, 2016 by Claire Hopple

Pile of pumpkins in Nashville in the fall

transplanting-trees-is-best-in-the-fall It’s October in Nashville and we’ve finally seen the weather start to cool off and pumpkins on front porches. But before it gets too cold, be sure to check out the beautiful fall scenery Nashville has to offer. Parke works hard to make sure the many trees and landscapes all over Middle Tennessee are beautiful. And while we don’t get to take care of every single tree in the city, it’s still very rewarding when we hear customers rave about their experiences outside and enjoying Music City’s surroundings. So as the leaves begin to turn and slowly fall off the branches, take advantage of some of Nashville’s most beautiful areas. Need some inspiration? Some suggestions include:

What to Do in Nashville This Fall

Bike the Greenways

This is a great and active way to explore some of the lesser known areas in Nashville. Rent or bring your own bike to the greenway and explore the trails at Two Rivers Park. It’s a great way to get a taste of some of Nashville’s most beautiful and majestic trees, plus, it’s a fun outdoor activity for the entire family to enjoy.

Visit Cheekwood

If you haven’t ever been to Cheekwood, the fall is a great time to check it out! Their landscape is truly something to admire, plus they have beautiful trees that span all over their property. Their fall event, Cheekwood Harvest is a season-long, celebration of all things fall! Their festive event includes a Mum Explosion, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin house, a beer garden and so much more. Cheekwood’s range of fall activities are great for Nashvillians of all ages and it’s a great way to celebrate the falling leaves.

Hike the Warner Parks

If you are looking for something a bit more active but don’t want to bike, we suggest hiking in one of the Warner Parks this fall! There’s nothing like hiking through some of Middle Tennessee’s most treasured parks on a cool, brisk day. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to see a variety of trees, landscape and wildlife. Both Percy and Edwin Warner parks span across 2600 acres of space, and it’s really something to be seen, especially as all the trees change colors for the fall.

There are so many great things to do in Nashville in autumn, especially when it comes to enjoying the outdoors. But really there’s no better place to enjoy the autumn months than your own backyard. Take advantage of your own landscape, and spend some time outside. Read a book underneath your favorite tree or plan a picnic with your family in your backyard. The ideas are endless!

And if your trees or landscape need a little tender, loving care this season, don’t hesitate to call us for any tree care or landscape needs. We have a variety of fall services available to you, including tree transplanting, leaf pick-up, seasonal decorating services and more! (Oh, and did you know you could buy trees and shrubs on our online store now?) We are here to help you get in the holiday spirit. Be sure to call us today for more information!

Three Ways to Prepare During Emergency Preparedness Month

March 7, 2024September 30, 2016 by Claire Hopple

Emergency Tree Services If you didn’t already know, September is Emergency Preparedness Month! This is an important time to evaluate your home and family’s protocol during an emergency and make a plan. Middle Tennessee can often be the center of major thunderstorms, flooding, winter storms and other natural disasters. For this reason alone it’s important to consider what you and your family need to do in an emergency and ensure you have all the necessary tools on hand should you need them.

Thankfully, Nashville has a great planning system in case of a severe storm, but sometimes that’s not the only thing that helps. There’s no better time than now to sit down with your family and discuss what your family plan might be should you need it. Here are three key factors our arborists recommend when planning and preparing for emergency preparedness:

How to Prepare for Landscape Emergencies

Have Emergency Service Numbers

Our team of tree care experts always recommend having our number on speed dial. Our emergency tree service experts can take care of large, fallen branches and trees. The trees might be blocking roadways or the branches might’ve fallen on a power line. Whatever, the case, make sure you have our number on hand should you experience a tree care emergency. In addition, be sure to have a list of other emergency service numbers such as Nashville’s Electric System, water company, Red Cross and many others. We also recommend writing down these numbers on a sheet of paper and having next to your landline phone or posted on your refrigerator. This way, you have the numbers ready no matter what happens. You never know if you might lose cellular service or run out of battery.

Gather an Emergency Kit for the Home

An emergency kit for your home or business is one of the best ways to stay prepared during a storm. Take a duffel bag or suitcase and compile items you’ll need during a storm. Your emergency kit could include items such as blankets, batteries, flashlights, canned foods and much more. For a full list of items, visit the Red Cross website or the National Weather Service website. And don’t worry! Our arborists emergency tree service crew has an emergency kit full of supplies too!

Put Together Shelter Supplies and an Evacuation Plan

Should the weather get bad enough and you need to evacuate, be sure to have a pack of shelter supplies and an evacuation plan ready. Research where your closest shelter is located beforehand and have a pack of supplies ready so you don’t waste too much time. Map out an evacuation plan with your family in case you are separated during a storm. Don’t forget that your plan should also include our emergency tree services. This way, if branches or trees fall in the roadway, an arborist can come quickly to remove the obstruction allowing you to get safely to a shelter.

Always be prepared! Having an evacuation plan, the appropriate phone numbers (including Parke’s emergency tree service) and kits for the home and shelter are important to ensure safety during a storm. Take the remainder of this month to prepare for an emergency. Want to talk tree care or landscape with us? Call an arborist for more information!

Writer of this blog – Gdweblab