Winter Irrigation Issues Nashville Homeowners Overlook – And How to Prevent Damage Before Spring

When you’ve gone to all the trouble (and expense) of having a tailored irrigation system installed on your property, the last thing you need is for the equipment to fail mid-winter due to frozen or cracked pipes.

Many property owners underestimate the potential for underground pipes to crack and valve housings to split over winter, but residual water left within these systems after the final season’s watering expands when it freezes, and this can cause major irrigation issues.

With Nashville’s freeze/thaw cycles, where temperatures can hover around 60°F one day and plummet to 20°F the next, your irrigation system can really take a beating.

Repairing or replacing damaged parts of an irrigation system can sometimes mean digging up your yard, but it could also prevent timely irrigation across your property when spring rolls back around. The best way to avoid these events is to schedule a proper winter irrigation inspection. 

At The Parke Company, we have long offered irrigation system winterization to our clients. As one of Middle Tennessee’s best landscaping and tree service companies, our team is committed to protecting and beautifying residential and public spaces through comprehensive, year-round landscape management, and irrigation services are no exception.

Should you encounter problems with your irrigation system due to frozen residual water, we can provide the repair and maintenance services you need to remediate the issue and prevent this type of damage from recurring.

When to Winterize an Irrigation System in Tennessee

Understanding when to winterize an irrigation system in Tennessee is important, especially in Middle Tennessee, where temperature swings can be sudden and severe. Even when your irrigation system is turned “off” at the controller, broken pipes or burst fittings can cause property-wide problems. In winter, these signs show up as follows:

  • Consistent soggy spots or pooling water in your yard (especially near sprinkler heads and valves, and along the main line).
  • Ice patches that form on your lawn or walkway.
  • Unusually discolored or tall patches of grass unintentionally receiving additional water underground.
  • Movement on your water meter flow indicator.
  • Visible sprinkler heads that should have disappeared below ground.
  • Visible cracks or chips on plastic casings (indicating freeze damage).

Most of the time, cracked pipes, leaks, and frozen valves go unnoticed over winter because the damage happens underground. By spring, however, you’ll notice signs your system isn’t functioning properly. Things to look out for include:

  • Low or uneven water pressure.
  • Hissing or bubbling sounds when the system is on.
  • Erratic spray patterns or sprinkler heads that aren’t popping up.

By winterizing your irrigation system about one to three weeks before the first hard freeze, you can prevent water buildup from causing cracks and other system-wide damage.

How Professionals Winterize Your Irrigation System

Professional winterization of your irrigation system requires the complete removal of water from every component to prevent freezing and expansion that can lead to cracking, splitting, and equipment malfunctions.

In most residential systems, this is done through manual drainage or compressed-air blowout. While the latter is the most thorough and reliable approach, some irrigation systems are designed with manual valves to be opened for drainage after the main water supply is shut off.

The compressed-air blowout method (most often used for complex or larger property systems) uses an air compressor to force all remaining water out of pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. This process must be performed carefully, zone by zone, to avoid damaging fittings or pipe joints and to ensure that no residual water is trapped underground.

Backflow preventers also receive attention during winterization. These devices are designed to protect your home’s water supply from contamination by backflow from the irrigation system; this backflow can contain fertilizers and bacteria and is particularly vulnerable to freeze damage. A cracked backflow assembly can lead to significant repair costs and plumbing code violations come spring, so it’s important to know they’ve been secured.

Finally, controllers and timers are powered down to prevent accidental system activation during freezing temperatures. A thorough final inspection confirms that all zones are fully cleared and that components are secure, preventing costly, yet all-too-common irrigation system issues.

When to Call for Inspection or Repairs Before the Spring Startup

We recommend that you call for a professional inspection or repairs to your irrigation system before the spring startup if you notice any of the unusual signs listed above in your yard. This is one of the smartest steps you can take, especially if you have an advanced or extensive drip system prone to drip irrigation issues. Identifying concerns and issues early allows repairs to be completed before spring demand increases and before your spring irrigation is scheduled to begin.

For Peace of Mind: Schedule a Mid-Winter Irrigation Inspection With The Parke Company

For homeowners in Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Brentwood, Franklin, College Grove, and the broader Nashville metropolitan area, proactive winterization of irrigation systems can be the difference between a smooth start to spring and costly surprises. 

Scheduling a professional inspection with our experts at The Parke Company allows us to identify hidden leaks, resolve freeze damage early, and ensure every component of your system is in good working order.

If you’re wondering when to winterize an irrigation system in Tennessee, or how to ensure it remains protected through the colder months, a professional inspection gives you the peace of mind you deserve.

For trusted landscape care and reliable irrigation expertise, The Parke Company provides a full-service approach that protects your property year-round, helping your lawn, trees, and plant beds stay healthy season after season and flourish with full resplendence in the spring, summer, and fall.

Get in touch today to schedule your mid-winter irrigation inspection.

Planning Your Spring Landscape in the Off-Season: Nashville Tips

When most people think about their home’s landscaping, they picture spring planting and summer maintenance. But every great outdoor space is the result of seasonal planning and year-round attention. What you might not realize is that winter is one of the best (and often overlooked) times of the year to prepare your property for the months ahead.

Winter is ideal for design consultations and quotes because you’re beating the spring rush. You’re also getting ahead on hardscaping ideas, installations, and planting schedules. Things to consider right now include installing a new pond, walkway, or pavers. You can also look into adding or upgrading your irrigation. Our irrigation experts at The Parke Company can work with you to design and implement a system that waters your lawn responsibly, keeping it lush and healthy over the summer. Attending to these plans off-season helps you avoid delays and budget accordingly.

Why Plan Landscaping Projects in Winter?

Planning your landscaping projects in winter is a smart way to do things. Winter offers a quieter, more strategic window to lay the foundations for the improvements you want to get to over the coming year.

One of the biggest advantages of winter planning is the increased availability of professional landscapers and arborists. With fewer projects coming in, reputable landscape services can offer greater scheduling and consulting flexibility. We find that clients who start their planning in the winter have an easier, less stressful time of settling on desired design revisions, securing materials (which can be in high demand over spring and summer), and getting any required permitting completed and authorized.   

Of course, there’s also the benefit of having landscape installations in place by the time spring rolls around. With Nashville’s milder winters, hardscaping construction, tree planting, and shrub planting can all be completed and ready to be enjoyed in a few months’ time.

For homeowners searching for “landscape maintenance near me,” The Parke Company has been an integral part of our community for decades. We even provide municipal services to keep our surrounding landscapes inviting and thriving, and to safely cut back our trees.

Common Spring Landscape Projects to Prep For

With plants dormant and growth slowed in the colder months, several essential landscaping tasks can be completed in winter.

Dormant pruning is one of the most important projects to address. Addressing overgrown shrubs and hedges and removing dead or damaged tree branches encourages healthier growth when plants emerge from dormancy. With no leaves or foliage in the way, it’s easier to see tree structures and prune precisely for good plant health and a pleasing appearance.

You can also use this time in winter to clear debris from the yard. Piles of leaves and fallen branches can invite pests, which can lead to plant or tree disease and human health issues, too. Rodents, various insects, and ticks can all find warmth in leaf piles and become a serious problem by spring.

Laying a fresh layer of mulch in winter adds to the protection of your landscaping. It helps insulate roots, retain soil moisture, and protect plants from temperature fluctuations. As the mulch breaks down, it enriches the soil, giving lawns and garden beds a stronger foundation for growth and more effective lawn maintenance throughout the growing season. Get in touch with our team to book this service now, and your gardens will thank you in full resplendence over spring, summer, and into fall.

If you enjoy growing your own vegetables, mapping out your vegetable beds now and selecting early-season crops like garlic and onions will result in a plentiful spring harvest. You can also consider adding winter-hardy plants such as Dogwoods or Witch Hazel so that year after year, you can enjoy a little extra color in the yard.

These sorts of Nashville landscaping tasks help create a smoother transition into spring and keep your property prepped and cared for as needed.

Working With Nashville Landscape Designers

Working with our landscape designers and certified arborists during the winter months gives you the chance to consider various approaches to upgrading your outdoor areas or integrating additional features. There’s no seasonal rush in winter, so there are fewer delays and usually lower costs.

On another practical note, with summer’s foliage gone, we can see your property’s true structures, making it easier to identify problems and opportunities related to hardscaping, layout, and drainage. These can all be nipped in the bud, before spring and summer’s tree and garden buds reappear.

With extra planning time in winter, you can relax and enjoy the process while we make your property pretty.

Budgeting and Scheduling Ahead

Planning ahead on your landscaping goals is one of the best ways to take control of your budget and your timeline. Late fall and early winter give you the chance to step back, assess your property thoughtfully, and take all things into account before making decisions.

We’re here to walk your property with you and discuss what’s worked well for you in the past and what you’d like to add or upgrade. Securing your quotes in winter makes budgeting easier, and finalizing your scheduling helps keep everything on track once peak-season demands fill up the calendar.

When you partner with The Parke Company, you’re partnering with decades of experience caring for residential, commercial, and municipal landscapes across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our team of certified arborists, designers, and horticulturalists takes a thoughtful, holistic approach to our work that combines smart planning with data-driven options for optimal decision-making and better outcomes.

From tree care and landscape design to installation and ongoing maintenance, we’re here to help you protect and enhance your beautiful outdoor spaces.Be proactive with tree and landscape maintenance this winter, and work with the pros for the very best results. Get in touch with our team at The Parke Company today.

Nashville Tree Removal: Winter Risks and When to Call a Pro

Trees take on a whole other dimension in winter. Snowcapped evergreens look festive, while deciduous trees can look more sculptural and ornamental. But just as their appearance changes, so can their health. Winter can pose many challenges for trees, from winter desiccation and winter burn to snow and ice damage and pest damage.

All of these winter tree concerns point to the need for more proactive care during the colder months. And while there are lots of things you can do to protect the trees on your property, sometimes it’s best to call the pros. It’s quite common for homeowners to believe a tree has gone dormant over the winter when, in reality, it is diseased or may need to be removed.

The experts at The Parke Company are here to help. From crown thinning to weight reduction or a complete tree removal, our certified arborists are passionate about Nashville’s tree ecosystem and specialize in quality tree care you can rely on.

Winter Weather and Tree Hazards

Nashville’s winter weather can present several potential hazards for trees. Ice and snow, strong winds, and temperature fluctuations can cause branches to break and trees to fall. The added weight of snow and ice can cause branches to break, even in healthy trees. This can trigger power outages and other dangerous conditions for surrounding residents and homeowners.

Evergreens are particularly vulnerable to snow and ice accumulations because their needles provide a larger surface area. In combination with strong winds and storms, trees can become so heavy that if their root network is not strong or they’re in soggy ground, they can be uprooted.

Lack of water during winter is also common when the ground is frozen. This also particularly impacts evergreens, which lose water through their needles year-round.

Tree species that are more susceptible to damage over winter include the Bradford Pear, Silver Maple, Willow, Hackberry, River Birch, and Virginia Pine. All these species are at high risk of damage and hazardous conditions due to their brittle wood or weak branch structures, which are prone to failure under the stress of winter elements.

Magnolias and Pin Oaks are also susceptible to winter damage, but they are not at as high a risk as those just mentioned. Since they retain their leaves and collect more ice, they do need to be monitored.

Species that are normally resistant to damage over winter are the Black Walnut, Ginkgo, White Oak, and Kentucky Coffeetree. All these species have strong wood and branching that help them withstand seasonal pressures.

Signs a Tree Should Be Removed in Winter

There are plenty of signs indicating that a tree needs to be removed. Fortunately, winter can help lay bare many of these signs since many trees lose their leaves this time of year. Obvious things like leaning, visible roots, or splits in branches that form a “V” or a “Y” shape are cause for concern and should be assessed by a professional arborist.

Bare, brittle twigs that snap easily and large branches that didn’t bud during spring may also need removing. Other signs to look out for include mushrooms or shelf fungi on the trunk or roots; a hollow trunk or a trunk with soft, spongy spots; deep vertical splits or cracks; and peeling bark that exposes dry wood, or deep frost cracks caused by fluctuating temperatures.  

Winter Tree Care: DIY vs. Hiring an Expert

Since winter often makes a tree’s branches more visible, it can be tempting to think that cutting it or removing it on your own would be easy. It’s understandable why some homeowners would consider tackling this chore, especially for smaller trees, but tree cutting and removal is one of those tasks where the risks far outweigh the potential rewards—especially in winter.

Without professional training, it’s extremely difficult to accurately assess a tree’s weight distribution, internal decay, or fall path. Even a small miscalculation can result in a branch or tree trunk coming down in an unexpected direction. This has the potential to cause serious injury or damage to your home, vehicle, or neighboring property. Once again, winter weather increases these risks.

Professional arborists bring the right equipment, experience, insurance, and rigorous standards to the job to ensure proper tree removal in Nashville and Middle TN. This is particularly important in areas with power lines, properties close to each other, and high-traffic areas.

When tree troubles arise, the safest decision is always to call a professional tree service. At The Parke Company, our certified arborists are trained in every area of tree cutting and removal.

Benefits of Winter Tree Removal

From a professional standpoint, winter is one of the best times to evaluate and address potential tree issues. Once deciduous trees shed their leaves and enter dormancy, their structure is fully exposed, giving our arborists an unobstructed view of what’s going on.

Without foliage in the way, we’re able to closely assess branch connections, identify dead or diseased limbs, and spot structural weaknesses that might otherwise go unnoticed during the growth season. This extra visibility allows us to determine whether a tree can be preserved, should be pruned, or requires removal. Planned and controlled removal is also safer and more cost-effective than emergency services.

Winter Is the Right Time for Professional Tree Services

Snow load, ice accumulation, high winds, and fluctuating temperatures can quickly turn a decaying or diseased tree into a serious hazard. When warning signs appear, timely tree removal can prevent costly damage.

For homeowners, commercial property managers, and municipal leaders alike, winter is a great time to have your trees assessed. Proactive planning can reduce the overall cost of tree removal, especially when emergency services are required or a tree has caused property damage. More importantly, working with a qualified arborist ensures every decision is guided by a species’ unique requirements, its health, and proper industry safety standards.

The Parke Company provides trusted tree services and solutions designed to keep Nashville properties safe year-round. From careful assessments to controlled removal, we are the experts that Nashville property owners can rely on. Safety, efficiency, professionalism, and a customer-first approach drive our mission to keep Nashville trees healthy and thriving season after season and to keep your trees looking their best.

If you’re unsure whether a tree in your yard might pose a risk this winter, contact The Parke Company and schedule an expert evaluation. Be proactive with your tree and landscape maintenance this season, and let’s protect your property before winter takes its toll.

Late Fall Leaf Clean-Up: Avoiding Lawn Damage Over Winter

This time of year, the same debate pops up among homeowners: to leave or not to leave the leaves. As with anything, the answer to this question lies in a thoughtful balance.

While a light scattering of leaves can help pollinators and cut down on the need for fertilizers, ignoring your fall clean-up entirely can cause long-term damage to your lawn and lead to more costly and difficult clean-up come spring. In Middle Tennessee, where winters are wet and freeze-thaw cycles are common, a heavy layer of leaves can create unhealthy conditions for your lawn. 

Late fall is your last chance to prepare your property before the winter weather arrives. With the right tools and techniques, you can protect your lawn while still supporting the environment. To follow is a rundown of those tools and techniques for late fall leaf clean-up, along with some added insights.

Why Leaves Shouldn’t Sit All Winter

A blanket of leaves on your grass may look colorful for a few days, but once the temperature drops and moisture settles in, that layer becomes a problem. In our region, where humidity and rainfall are persistent, leaves break down quickly and will form a dense, matted cover that blocks the sunlight from getting through and traps moisture. 

Grass requires sunlight to perform photosynthesis and store energy in the roots, even during the fall and winter. If leaves sit for too long on top of your turf, this process can’t progress, weakening your grass as a result. Not everyone cares about their grass, but if you want your grass to thrive next year, it’s important to act accordingly.

This dense and matted layer of leaves can also become a breeding ground for fungal diseases such as snow mold, crown and root rot, which show up as white or tan patches in spring. Once these diseases take hold, they are very difficult to resolve.

At the same time, a thick layer of leaves on your grass invites pests. Rodents, such as field mice, create tunnels and burrows to shelter from the cold and from predators, and they feed on tender grass and roots over the winter. Insects like beetles and moths, as well as slugs, snails, spiders, and ticks, also use these leaves for shelter. When spring arrives, they emerge with an appetite, seeking food, water, and new nesting sites. As breeding season for many species, which can lead to increased populations around your home. Providing food and shelter to local critters by leaving the leaves can be good for the ecosystem (hence the growing popularity of the “leave the leaves” movement), but not everyone wants their yard to be infested once it warms up.

Also, note that heavy layers of leaves do not decompose—they rot. This throws off a lawn’s nutritional balance by depleting nitrogen from the soil and making it easier for weeds to take over once temperatures warm up.

Lawn Health Risks From Neglect

Neglecting leaf management can create a negative domino effect for your lawn. When leaves pile up, they cut off the exchange of air and moisture between the soil and the atmosphere. This can suffocate turfgrass roots and lead to mold. Leaves left to pile up near storm drains can cause localized flooding and water pollution, and those that end up in landfills produce methane—a potent greenhouse gas.

For all these reasons, we recommend raking leaves that are accumulating on your grass in the early stages to protect your lawn through the winter months.

Tools for Efficient Leaf Removal

Clearing leaves does not require any specialized strategizing, but it does require the right tools and techniques. A lightweight rake is often all you need to clean up a smaller yard. When their flexible tines comb across your lawn, they won’t pull at the turf, making the job relatively simple.

For larger Middle Tennessee properties or heavy accumulations, a leaf blower can help gather leaves into manageable piles. Many homeowners also use leaf vacuums, which suck leaves up through a tube where an impeller mulches them in one pass before depositing them into a collection bag. Mulch mowers, leaf sweepers, scoops, and grabbers are all available at most hardware stores, where a quick conversation with the garden area attendant can help you make the right choice. Above all, we recommend you don’t rake wet, heavy leaves. Instead, use that blower and a leaf vacuum or tarp to collect them.

Eco-Friendly Leaf Disposal Options

Once leaves are collected, you have several ways to dispose of them that do not involve the garbage can (and then the landfill). Mulching them back into your yard is one of the easiest ways to maintain eco-friendly practices. You can also place mulched leaves on your garden beds to insulate plant roots, retain soil moisture, and support beneficial insects during winter.

Composting is another option we highly recommend. Since leaves are excellent “brown” materials rich in carbon, they are ideal for balancing “green” materials like grass clippings and food scraps.

If you’re managing large bundles of leaves, many cities in Middle Tennessee have seasonal curbside leaf removal pickup programs. Check with your specific city or municipality to confirm dates, rules, and how to prepare your leaves.

There are also some designated drop-off locations in Davidson County where you can dispose of yard waste for free. Two of them are:

  • 1511 Elm Hill Pike — Nashville, TN 37210
  • 6401 Centennial Blvd — Nashville, TN 37209

Be aware, however, that trailers may be charged a fee at some facilities.  

One thing you should never do is blow your leaves into the street or burn your leaves (which is illegal in many areas due to air quality concerns). Choose one of the strategies above instead and feel good about contributing to the well-being of our local ecosystem.

Leave the Leaves and Other Landscaping Chores to Us

When it comes to your lawn maintenance, irrigation, and tree longevity, proactive care is your best bet. So is partnering with industry pros who have specific certifications and are highly skilled in holistic, data-driven approaches to nurturing and maintaining a beautiful lawn and landscape.  

Get in touch with the experts at The Parke Company today for the best in comprehensive landscaping services. We’re the company Middle Tennessee’s cities and municipalities rely on for public landscaping needs, tree removals, and brush cleanups.

Keep your property looking its best season after season with the best in the business in your corner. Contact us today for your free estimate.

Should You Install Landscape Edging Before Winter?

Healthy, well-manicured landscaping involves more than just a lawnmower and regular watering. Those lush, deep-green fairways and colorful garden beds are the result of careful planning, proper soil management, the right plant selection, and specific maintenance practices tailored to the local climate.

A key part of well-maintained Nashville yards is their landscape edging. This is what creates clean, crisp lines between lawns, adjoining gardens, and pathways, keeping grass and mulch in their respective areas and delineating pleasing focal points. And fall is the best time to install it.

What Is Landscape Edging?

Landscape edging is a finishing detail for lawns, garden beds, and pathway borders. It’s a part of landscape design that serves both functional and aesthetic purposes, preventing grass and weeds from creeping into planting beds and keeping mulch and soil in their defined areas.

Edging also helps prevent runoff during the winter months, especially during heavy rain. When properly installed, edging keeps mulch, soil, and amendments like compost, gypsum, and other organic materials in place.  

For a head start to spring gardening in Nashville, creating or re-establishing these clean lines keeps your garden looking polished, organized, and intentional.

Benefits of Pre-Winter Installation

If you’ve seen homes and businesses around the Nashville area with defined and visually appealing landscape vignettes and wondered when and how to install landscape edging, fall and early winter offer favorable conditions, believe it or not. 

Adding this project to your seasonal yard upgrade plan pre-winter, when cooler temperatures and soil moisture make edging more efficient, you’ll not only have an easier time of it, but you’ll also reduce the risk of disturbing established garden beds and other softscape features. When paired with professional landscaping services, edging can dramatically improve the design and structure of your property.

If you live in an area prone to snow, edging helps channel excess melt away from your home or business foundation and sensitive plant beds. 

Types of Edging to Consider

There are several different types of landscape edging materials to choose from. This includes steel, aluminum, natural stone, pre-cast concrete blocks or poured curbing, brick, plastic, and rubber. Of these, your best choice should be suited to the Middle Tennessee climate and to your property’s landscape design. 

Here’s a breakdown of materials and their characteristics:

  • Metal edging like steel or aluminum provides a sleek, contemporary look. It’s strong, long-lasting, and, if you choose Corten steel, will weather to an attractive patina.
  • Natural stone like fieldstone or stacked stone are easy to find in Nashville and offer a more classic aesthetic.
  • Concrete offers a durable, low-maintenance solution that can be molded into your desired shape and style.
  • Brick is a popular, more traditional choice that adds both color and a classic aesthetic. This material can also be installed in patterns, such as sawtooth or zigzag.
  • Plastic edging is an affordable, flexible option that adapts well to curving and comes in a variety of colors.
  • Rubber edging is made from recycled materials and is also flexible and durable. It is also non-toxic and therefore a good choice for homes with children and pets. Products these days can even mimic the look of stone or brick.
  • Wood edging offers a natural, rustic aesthetic. In Nashville’s humid climate, however, wood materials must be durable and rot-resistant.

Low fencing and short hedges are excellent options for landscape edging as well. They define a garden space nicely and help guide foot traffic. These options are particularly well-suited to spaces you want to protect.

Best Practices for Nashville Yards

When planning a winter landscape installation in Nashville, it’s important to consider our region’s freeze-thaw cycles so they don’t affect the stability of your layout. Here’s how to get the most out of your project:

Preparation:

  • Mark your desired edge shape with string or a hose.
  • Clear branches, leaves, and other debris from your planned edging area. (Wet debris can lead to rot and the accumulation of frost over winter.)
  • Using a shovel or edger, dig a trench approximately four inches deep along your defined area. Consider doing this after it’s rained so the soil is moist and easy to move.
  • Ensure proper drainage is in place to prevent pooling that can freeze and expand, damaging your edging.
  • Clear out any remaining soil or debris to create a clean edge and give the grass along the edging one last trim.

General Maintenance Tips:

  • Inspect your edging for loose, tilted, or damaged sections and re-anchor them before the ground freezes.
  • If you’ll be using de-icing salts on nearby pathways or driveways, keep these products away from your edging and surrounding plants.
  • During the snowy months, be extra cautious not to impact your edging when shoveling or using a snowblower.
  • Minimize foot traffic on frozen grass near your edging as much as possible.
  • Apply a layer of organic mulch or straw around the base of your edging to act as insulation. This will help regulate the temperature of the soil and prevent rapid freeze-thaw cycles.

Installing Landscape Edging Before Winter — Yea or Nay?

To keep insulating layers of mulch within their defined garden beds, manage water flow, create structural lines, and make spring landscaping easier, the verdict on installing landscape edging pre-winter is a resounding yes!

At The Parke Company, we help homeowners and business owners upgrade and maintain their trees, greenery, and flower beds through thoughtful stewardship, seasonal planning, and exceptional landscaping maintenance services. Our team is dedicated to creating beautiful and resilient spaces that thrive year after year.

Whether you’re ready to plan and install edging pre-winter or design your spring planting strategy, we’re here to make it happen.

Be proactive with your landscape maintenance by working with your local professionals at The Parke Company. Contact us today for your free estimate.