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Best Mulching and Chipping Ideas to Consider Come Spring

March 7, 2024December 31, 2022 by The Parke Company

Proper mulching and chipping allow you to control weeds, minimize erosion, and regulate soil temperature by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it during the night. Like other landscaping services, mulching and chipping services are best delivered by accredited experts. At The Parke Company, we have a team of professional landscapers active in preserving, beautifying, and protecting natural scenes; our services are primarily offered in Middle Tennessee and Nashville.

Let’s go over the best chipping and mulch landscaping ideas to consider by the time spring rolls around.

Transitional Landscape Steps To Take As Spring Approaches

Spring marks the beginning of the landscaping season. That said, there’s work to be done before the weather warms up to ensure the success and health of your green spaces. The Parke Company recommends various steps to make this seasonal transition easier. They include:

1. Cleaning Your Landscape

Begin by removing the dead or dried crops from your garden or lawn and replace them with fresh plants. Landscape cleanliness is an essential factor for crop health. Removing dirt, debris, and weeds from your landscape helps make way for much-needed spring sunshine and showers – it also helps growing plants breathe better.

2. Applying Mulch

Applying mulch to plants and tree bases acts as a form of protection from hot or cold weather. Get professional help to know the proper steps before applying the mulch.

3. Evaluating Your Landscape’s Health

Assessing the overall health of your landscape is a positive investment in your property. Having a healthy garden increases the value and appeal of your property significantly and reflects well on your stewardship. However, some people may not have the time or experience to do so properly; hence, they hire professionals to perform these inspections throughout the year (this is especially important before and after winter).

4. Pruning and Trimming Trees

Trimming trees keeps them healthy and shapely while protecting your property and landscape from debris. Some plants require pruning before the spring, while others need to be trimmed and pruned after spring arrives. Professionals like The Parke Company can provide more information regarding tree trimming, pruning, and mulching services.

5. Evaluating Your Watering Needs

When spring arrives, your green spaces will require regular watering to thrive – some of this moisture will come from the spring rainfall, but the rest will be supplied by your irrigation system. Before you restart your irrigation system, determine which areas of your landscape will require what level of watering, and ensure that your system can accommodate these needs.

6. Scheduling for Deep Root Fertilization

To make your garden look beautiful the entire spring season, prepare your plants by watering them and giving them enough fertilizer to maintain their health. If you establish a routine fertilizing strategy, your crops will maintain strength and fitness even in hot weather.

What Mulching And Chipping Entails

Mulching and chipping aren’t exactly the same thing, but they’re closely related and both involved in maintaining your lawn. Put simply, “chipping” refers to mulching via the use of wood chips. Mulching is a more general term that includes chipping but may also be made of straw, grass clipping, composted material, pine needles, paper, and more. Composition aside, mulching helps keep your property lush and green by adding nutrients to the soil – it also serves as a protective layer against weeds and pests, keeping them out of your lawn. Moreover, mulching helps control the amount of water that enters your yard through rainfall, which prevents erosion and excess moisture buildup.

Mulches can also be divided into biodegradable and non-biodegradable varieties:

Biodegradable Mulches (organic mulching) – These consist of organic matter, which breaks down after some period and releases nutrients, improving the soil structure. You will need to replace biodegradable mulches because layers rot down gradually. The best material for these mulches includes wood chippings, processed conifer bark, garden compost and leaf mold, among others.
Non-biodegradable Mulches (inorganic mulching) – This entails mulching using non-biodegradable materials such as shingles, slate, pebbles, stone chipping, gravel, and other plastic materials. Inorganic mulching does not improve the structure or fertility of the soil; they only act as a weed suppressor. It is best to use materials which will not absorb much heat to maintain the temperature of the roots. However, reaching out to experts can be a good idea. We at The Parke Company have experienced landscapers who can deal with your mulching specfiications and complications.

Benefits Of Mulching And Chipping

If you mulch your lawn, especially with landscaping wood chips, you will achieve the following:

1. Reduced Erosion

Water will be preserved in the soil for a long time; it will keep the ground together, so the land cannot be washed or swept away during storms. The chippings will be handy in preventing contact between wind (which occurs regularly in spring and summer) and the soil in your garden.

2. Fewer Weeds

Weeds also need sunlight, water, and warmth to grow. Therefore, if you cover your garden with mulch, the weeds underneath the mulch will not thrive. Establish an effective mulch so weeds cannot slip through them.

3. Increased Water Retention

Placing wood chips on your landscape will reduce water loss through vaporization by around 50%. This means you won’t have to worry about watering nearly as much – saving time, money, and energy.

Getting The Most Out Of Mulching And Chipping In Spring 2023

Like other landscape services, mulching and chipping require professional guidance to succeed. The Parke Company provides affordable and high-quality landscaping services to businesses, municipalities, and homeowners across Nashville. We have certified landscape experts who are consistent, clean, and leaders in their field.

If you’re wondering, “What company offers mulching services near me?” The Parke Company provides multiple mulching services and other landscaping services in Nashville and surrounding areas. Call us today at 615-350-6033 to prepare your green spaces for 2023. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate!

Key Irrigation Services to Invest in for 2023

March 7, 2024December 15, 2022 by The Parke Company

Irrigation Services in Nashville and Middle Tennessee

As temperatures and weather patterns shift, so too must your approach to landscaping. Irrigation is of particular importance here, as drier seasons call for additional watering, whereas wet periods don’t require nearly as much. Green spaces lie dormant during cold winters, so irrigation is also not needed during the coldest months. With so many changes to keep track of, it helps to have a partner like The Parke Company at your side. We deliver comprehensive landscaping services, including all the irrigation solutions your lawn requires.

Read on to discover which irrigation services to invest in for 2023.

Why Functional, Efficient Irrigation is Important

Most people know that it’s a good idea to water their plants and grass, but the benefits of proper irrigation are often overlooked. Here are a few reasons to maintain your irrigation system year-round.

Curb Appeal

Irrigated lawns are healthy and beautiful, boosting the value of their surrounding properties. If you water your lawn too much or too little, you run the risk of diminishing your home’s or business’ value.

Lawn Health

Your green spaces are exposed to a number of environmental threats, including extreme temperatures, harsh winds, pests, pollution, impact, and more. While these hazards can’t always be avoided, your plant life at the very least requires adequate watering to hold firm against the elements. Getting this calculation right will allow your lawn and garden to thrive during the warmer months, and give them a better rest when things get cold. Once again, the optimal amount of lawn irrigation will change throughout the year depending on rainfall level and other conditions.

Energy Savings

An outdated or damaged irrigation system can result in significant water waste. Likewise, failing to understand your lawn’s needs might cause you to use more water than necessary. Whatever the case, this mismanagement of resources hurts both the environment and your wallet.

Why it’s Key to Properly Shut Down and Restart Your Irrigation System

Though Nashville, TN enjoys relatively mild winters, this region is no stranger to snow or freezing temperatures. When winter reaches its peak, plant life essentially hibernates, storing its energy in the roots until it can spring back to life the following season. As such, no watering is required during the cold season – in fact, keeping your irrigation system up and running when temperatures dip so low can be a costly mistake. Any water remaining in pipes or valves can freeze and damage your irrigation components.

To avoid dishing out for expensive irrigation repair services in the spring, make sure you properly shut down and winterize your irrigation system before it gets too cold. Doing so will protect your system from harm and make for an easier startup in the spring. Indeed, a proper spring startup is also necessary to ease your irrigation system back into its routine.

The Parke Company offers both irrigation winterization and spring startup services for Nashville and Middle Tenessee residents and businesses.

Key Irrigation Services to Consider for 2023

The start of a new year is a great time to plan for your irrigation needs. Here are six irrigation services to invest in for 2023 and beyond:

1. Irrigation Audits and Tests

An irrigation audit is a professional inspection of your irrigation system and its components. These audits include numerous tests (including backflow testing) to ensure the system is operating properly and efficiently. And if any issues crop up, they can be swiftly addressed.

2. Additions to Existing Systems

Even if your irrigation system is working okay, it might benefit from an upgrade (or several) to make it more energy-efficient, easier to operate, and so on. Likewise, older components might need replacing.

3. New System Installation

Recent years have seen significant breakthroughs in irrigation technology. This might be the year for a brand new irrigation system, especially if your green spaces aren’t thriving as they should.

4. Irrigation Repair

All irrigation systems will require some repairs now and then. The key is keeping a close eye on your system to catch any issues early on so your repairs stay small and manageable.

5. Winterization

It may be winter now, but it’s never too soon to prepare for your irrigation system’s next winter service.

6. Spring Startup

Spring will be here before you know it. Make sure your irrigation system receives a proper restart when the ground finally thaws.

Looking for “Lawn Irrigation Services Near Me?”

A quick online search will reveal several landscapers in Nashville and Middle Tennessee – rely on the landscaping provider that provides the range of services and quality of care you deserve: The Parke Company. Call us today at 615-350-6033 to schedule your irrigation services for 2023. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate!

Protect Your Yard: Full-Service Landscaping for Winter

March 3, 2026November 28, 2022 by The Parke Company

Snow covering the ground with a few strands of grass poking through.

The harshness of winter can be difficult on any landscape. Harsh, subfreezing temperatures and occasional bouts with snow or ice can make living plants weak, brittle, and more susceptible to damage. High winds and other environmental challenges can further weaken the vitality of living greenery and make them more susceptible to threats like disease and fungal infections.

To keep lawns and landscapes in Nashville and Middle Tennessee healthy, vibrant, and robust all year long, homeowners should plan ahead for winter weather. It is essential to perform proper preparation before the snow falls or temperatures plummet so that plants are better able to handle whatever mother nature throws their way throughout the cold months of winter.

Proper preparation can minimize the weather’s damaging impact on your little piece of heaven and make it more likely that your lawn and landscape will survive the winter season in top condition. It is also important to ensure you are equipped with the proper tools for addressing issues that might arise during the cold months, such as fallen branches or heavy ice accumulation on tree limbs. A full service landscaping company like The Parke Company can help you put together a plan for keeping your yard in tip-top shape all winter long.

Challenges Landscapes Face During Winter

The harshness of winter can be particularly challenging for the lawns, landscapes, and trees that often surround our homes. Here are some of the challenges that your Nashville and Middle Tennessee home is likely to face during winter:

Temperature extremes can harm living plants and cause foliage to wilt and die.
Freezing temperatures can also cause snow to accumulate in large sheets, making trees and shrubs susceptible to damage from heavy ice sheets.
Ice sheets often accumulate on tree canopies, weighing them down and creating a threat of breakage or collapse.
High winds often accompany winter weather. These high winds can damage trees and shrubs.
Poor drainage on your property exacerbates the problems frostbitten plants may face during winter’s harshest days.
Snow and ice can also clog up your gutters, making it difficult for excess water to escape and create puddles in lawns and gardens.
Ice sheets forming on your plants suffocate them and make them more susceptible to damage by bacteria and fungi.
This is not just an issue for your lawn; frostbitten plants also pose a dangerous threat to the health of your trees and shrubs. Yellowed, unhealthy, or diseased foliage can decrease the overall health of your greenery.

Nevertheless, many homeowners have been able to avoid the dangers and damage that winter can create for landscaping by taking the proper steps in advance.

Services that Protect Landscapes During Winter

What do landscapers do in the winter? To protect your greenery from winter’s harsh elements, it is important to be prepared in advance. Here are the landscaping services you can expect from The Parke Company:

1. Hard Pruning

Hard pruning is an essential part of protecting your plants from winter damage. This process involves cutting off dead or diseased leaves and stems that could further harm your greenery by harboring bacteria, fungi, and other harmful elements. Winter is the ideal time to hard prune your plants since most are dormant. This will also create space for new healthy branches to spring up to replace damaged foliage.

Our full service landscaping services include hard pruning clients’ plants before winter, so they are already hardy enough to handle whatever mother nature may throw their way in the coming weeks and months.

2. Protecting Living Plants from Ice Damage

During winter, ice can form on the foliage of your trees and shrubs. Even light snowfall can create a heavy ice sheet that can weigh down your greenery and make it more vulnerable to damage from high winds or other environmental challenges. No matter how light the snowfall may be, it can still form an icy layer on trees, impairing their ability to take up water and transport nutrients on which they depend for survival.

The Parke Company can help you protect your plants from ice damage. We will be sure that your plants are healthy and equipped with the tools they need to endure the cold season in tip-top shape.

3. Ensuring Continual Drainage

Maintaining the drainage flow in your winter landscape is just as important for your greenery as it is for the pipes and drains in your home. Trees, plants, and other vegetation are subject to waterlogging if they are not well-drained. Waterlogged greenery is more susceptible to root infection, fungus, and more.

We ensure that our clients’ landscapes have proper levels of drainage so that you can avoid problems with fungi and disease during winter months. One way to do this is by chipping away at the roots of trees and shrubs to create more space for water drainage and reduce the burden on plants’ root systems, which are often weakened by the winter season.

4. Weed Removal

Trees and shrubs in residential landscapes can often harbor a host of weeds and pests, which are especially detrimental during winter. These unwelcome plants can take up valuable space in your yard and make it more of a challenge to maintain the aesthetic appeal of your landscape design. Thriving weeds also contribute to the decay of foliage’s health, posing an additional threat to your greenery.

5. Disease Management

Diseases can take a heavy toll on plants during winter. Diseases are often spread by certain insects, such as caterpillars and moths. Small mammals such as rabbits and groundhogs also help spread diseases to plants in yards.

To protect your greenery from diseases, we scout every tree on the property for potential infection. We will also take steps to quickly remove any infected plants from our clients’ landscapes to prevent the spread of deadly diseases.

Benefits of Having One Provider Do it All

As an all-inclusive landscaping company, The Parke Company provides sustainable, effective, and efficient services to clients throughout the greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee areas. You can avoid many dangers your lawn and plants may face during winter by contracting The Parke Company to take care of your landscaping needs.

Here are some of the reasons why you should consider The Parke Company for your landscaping needs during winter:

The Parke Company provides a professional assessment from every angle and for every season. This allows us to fully understand your specific needs, helping us serve you better as we take care of your greenery throughout the year.
We can protect your plants in other ways besides just cutting them back. We can help you eliminate disease and pests, as well as re-vegetate your yard in ways that will make it more visually appealing.
The Parke Company’s team of landscaping experts can be relied on for guidance regarding a myriad of landscape design options, from turning your yard into a natural wildflower meadow to enhancing the beauty of your property by integrating deciduous trees and shrubs into your landscape design.
We can ensure that your plants are in the best condition possible. We can help you establish a healthy and natural ecosystem with plants that will thrive regardless of the conditions imposed on them.
We are available 24/7, so we can reach you at any time throughout the year. Our company is also equipped with snow blowers, tractors, snow plows, and many other heavy-duty machines that can help us protect your landscape when needed.
We can help you plan a landscape design and custom-fit it for your property, ensuring that it is functional and aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, we can create a sustainable, eco-friendly design that lets you enjoy nature at its best.
We offer affordable pricing to help make the most of your budget. Our pricing is based on the amount of work involved in taking care of your landscape rather than on the number of services provided. When you work with The Parke Company, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed by an overpriced quote.

Call us today at 615-350-6033 to schedule your winter landscape maintenance session. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate to help you decide whether our services are right for your landscaping needs.

Tree Service Companies: Why Working with Local Professionals Is Best

December 4, 2025November 15, 2022 by The Parke Company

Company removing a tree on a golf course.

Many factors come into play when comparing tree service companies. A quick online search will show you countless options of all sizes. You might be tempted to hire a national brand for its sheer size and name recognition, but bigger isn’t necessarily better. In fact, the smaller companies nearby can often offer better services, lower prices, and more personalized care. Here we’ll explore why working with a local tree service is best for your property, budget, and peace of mind.

What Do Tree Companies Do?

Before you even run a search for “tree trimming service near me,” it helps to know what you’re getting into and whether such a company can provide the services you need. Tree services tackle many aspects of tree care, and some may offer additional landscaping services to boot. For the most part, a tree service company will provide the following services:

Tree Trimming

Trimming is the process of pruning, removing dead or damaged branches, and shaping the plant. This service can be done on any tree species and is usually to maintain the tree or improve its overall appearance.

Tree Removal

Tree service companies are also involved with removing dead trees either due to natural causes or because they pose a threat to your people or property.

Fire Hazard Mitigation

When fires erupt, tree service companies become handy in removing branches too close to a building. In most cases of fire, there is a significant chance that the building will be damaged because of debris or fallen branches.

Landscaping

Landscaping is an umbrella term for processes that improve the health and appearance of green spaces, including mowing, edging, planting new trees and ornamental plants, fertilizing and testing soil, raising tree canopies, and so on. A local tree service will best advise its clients on the plants that will work best for them and their property.

Stump Removal/Grinding

This is the process of removing stumps either manually or with the use of machines. A lingering stump can become a tripping hazard and attract pests and fungi.

Crane Services

Crane services involve the moving of heavy loads with the help of cranes. This service is mainly used for large trees or if you have several trees that need to be removed.

Storm Debris Removal and Repair

Severe storms can incur serious damage to landscapes and properties. Necessary repairs may include removing storm-damaged tree branches and limbs or cleaning up storm debris.

Cabling and Bolting

A tree service provider might also improve a tree’s structural integrity by redistributing its weight and helping it stand more upright via cables and bolts.

Benefits of Working with Local Tree Professionals

Now that you have a sense of what tree services do, here’s why it’s best to keep it local.

Close Knowledge of the Locale

When a tree service operates in your region, they inherently understand the local weather patterns, ecosystem, and other nuances. If you’re in a region that experiences strong winds, tree services will know how much protection to offer them. Other climate concerns like drought, hurricanes, extreme heat or cold, etc. all factor into how to best care for local landscapes and trees.

Local Connection and Support

When hiring a local tree cutting service, it’s best to go with one that’s already involved in your community. Working with these close-to-home businesses boosts the local economy while beautifying the neighborhood. Plus, people you already trust are bound to recommend the best local trees services in your area – word of mouth is a powerful endorsement and benefits both the customer and the tree company.

Effective Communication

Anyone you hire, whether a babysitter or a tree trimming service, must maintain strong communication throughout. Otherwise, you can quickly become kept in the dark regarding problems, price changes, timelines, and more. Getting a hold of large, national tree service brands can be a nightmare of red tape and telephone tag. Compare this headache with the simplicity of a local phone call with the smaller tree service down the road. Simply put, a local tree service is more likely to get back to you and keep you in the loop than some giant corporation.

Quick Assessment of Damage

Effective communication also helps in the efficient evaluation of the damage. Local providers can get to the site quickly and let you know what needs to be done without delay. A quick assessment helps you decide how much the project will cost and who to choose for your tree services.

Trust and Reputation

If a company is trusted in your neighborhood, it’s worth seeking them out. Once again: word of mouth is powerful. There’s more at stake for a local tree company than a larger competitor. After all, the local provider must face its community every single day – if it loses favor with the community, it might go out of business. By sticking with a local business with a solid reputation, you can rest assured they earned that reputation and intend to keep earning it.

Fair Pricing

Though the biggest companies can sometimes undercut the local competition because they can, smaller businesses tend to offer competitive pricing to stay afloat. The average cost of living varies from region to region, so hiring a local tree service will help keep these costs in line. Plus, local tree services have less overhead to worry about than their larger competitors – some of these savings get passed down to you, the customer.

Trust The Parke Company for Nashville, TN Tree Services

For residents residing in Nashville, TN, and Middle TN, The Parke Company is the best local tree service to work with. We offer a wide range of tree services, including tree trimming, removal, cabling, municipal services, and stump removal, along with irrigation, landscape maintenance, and more. Call us today at 615-350-6033 to learn more about our offerings. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate to help you decide whether our services are right for your landscaping needs.

The Premier Landscaping Services Perfect for Fall

March 3, 2026October 26, 2022 by The Parke Company

Colored leaves on the ground in the fall.

Fall is a fantastic time for family gatherings, community activities, and festive decorations. But as the days grow shorter and the leaves start to fall from their trees, every property owner knows that it’s also time to prepare their outdoor spaces for winter. The Parke Company serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee is here to help you beat the cold weather season and make your outdoor spaces look beautiful for years to come with our full service landscaping services.

How the Transition to Autumn Affects Landscaping Services and Needs

As autumn takes over, yards and gardens begin to wither away – this transition often yields gorgeous colors along the way. During this season, there are a few ideal landscaping services to seek for your yards and gardens. The first service is to trim branches that may have grown into a fence or a power line. There are a few ways to handle this situation: plant new trees and shrubs, remove trees and shrubs that are no longer useful for your yard, and reshape them by trimming them up. Debris removal is another ideal service for fall, as the season’s winds, rains, and falling leaves produce plenty of detritus.

This time of year is also prime for lawn fertilization. This important task protects the health of your lawn even when it’s lying dormant during winter. Proper fertilization will, in fact, shorten this dormant period and help your lawn spring back to life after winter’s end. Meanwhile, continue mowing your lawn until the grass completely stops growing. Grinding up fallen leaves along the way will allow your lawn to breathe as the season progresses. The Parke Company can also provide lawn aeration services this time of year, test your soil, and more.

Preparing Your Green Spaces for Winter

Taking care of your lawn during autumn helps you prepare it for winter. Even in an area that enjoys milder winters like Nashville, TN, cold conditions, snow, and other wintry factors can do serious damage to your green spaces if they’re not well-protected. Investing in the services outlined above and removing any dead or dying plants will help keep your landscapes healthy and beautiful throughout the winter season.

Beyond these acts, however, you must also consider the state of your irrigation system. You won’t be needing your sprinklers during winter, so it’s important to shut down these systems prior to the first frost. Keeping your irrigation system active during winter can freeze and clog valves, permanently damaging these components. By the time spring rolls back around, you may be faced with major irrigation repairs. The Parke Company offers full irrigation winterization and restart services so you can bring your lawn back to life as soon as the weather allows.

Why Hire Professionals From The Parke Company

At The Parke Company, all of our full service landscaping offerings are performed by certified, qualified, and experienced employees to ensure top-notch services. We provide various landscape service options to our residential and commercial customers, including pre-construction consultation, landscape design, landscape installation, maintenance, irrigation shutdowns and restarts, planting, mowing, trimming, and more.

When you call The Parke Company to schedule a consultation with our team, we will help you decide which premier landscaping services best suit your property for the season. Call us today at 615-350-6033 to schedule your autumn or winter landscape maintenance session. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation and estimate to help you decide whether our services are right for your landscaping needs.