Why Hiring a Tree Removal Service with a Certified Arborist is the Best Option

Company removing a tree.

Trees are terrific, but they can also terrorize your property. Whether from old age, a lack of maintenance, or natural phenomena, trees can shed hazardous debris onto your landscape and structures, if not collapse entirely. If your home or business is at risk of this tree-related destruction, it’s best to have the tree(s) in question removed. However, tree removal is a delicate process, and even a small error can result in major safety concerns and costly damage. Fortunately, there are third-party organizations dedicated to teaching and certifying tree removal professionals to ensure the best outcomes – chief among them is the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), which oversees a Certified Arborist® program for companies with at least three years of full-time experience in arboriculture (e.g., tree care companies, nurseries, landscaping companies, and more).

The Parke Company proudly brandishes its ISA Arborist Certification, giving our clients peace of mind. Here’s why hiring a tree removal service with ISA Arborist Certification is always the way to go for your home or business.

Why You Should Hire a Tree Removal Service With ISA Arborist Certification

Certified Arborists Know the Ins and Outs of Trees

Receiving ISA Arborist Certification requires comprehensive knowledge and skills related to tree care. According to the ISA’s Certified Arborist® Application Guide, “When you become an ISA Certified Arborist®, you are recognized by your peers and the public as a tree care professional who has attained a generally accepted level of knowledge in areas such as tree biology, diagnosis, maintenance practices, safety, and other subject and practice areas within the tree care profession as identified through periodic job task analyses.” Put simply, when hiring a certified arborist to take care of your trees, you’ll already know that the provider is bringing detailed knowledge and experience to the table – not just in one category, but in 10 areas of knowledge laid out by the certification’s written exam:

  • Soil Management
  • Identification and Selection
  • Installation and Establishment
  • Safe Work Practices
  • Tree Biology
  • Pruning
  • Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Urban Forestry
  • Tree Protection
  • Tree Risk Management

The benefits of tree removal services featuring this level of knowledge cannot be overstated. After all, tree removal is only one of many services that will keep your landscape healthy and your property safe from harm.

Ensure Safety at Your Property

As mentioned above, safe work practices constitute a significant portion of ISA Arborist Certification. The first objective outlined in the guide is to “advance the knowledge and application of safe work practices in all arboricultural operations.” To achieve and maintain certification, applicants must stay up to date on the most current ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Z133 Standard – Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations. These standards deal with the proper use of relevant tools and equipment, avoidance of electrical hazards, safe climbing methods, general procedures, and more. ISA Certified Arborists also keep customers and their properties safe by keeping trees healthy and sturdy. While any tree removal service should adhere to these safety guidelines, you can rest assured that Certified Arborists are constantly primed to manage risk and maximize safety before, during, and after the job.

Adherence to High Ethical Standards

When hiring any kind of service, you only want to deal with companies you can trust. No matter the industry or specialty, unethical business practices are all too common, resulting in unfair pricing, shoddy outcomes, inappropriate and unprofessional behavior, and so on. And it’s not always easy to determine whether or not a company is trustworthy until after you’ve hired them. As such, it helps to rely on an objective party like the ISA’s Credentialing Council to determine a contractor’s integrity beforehand.

According to the ISA Certified Arborist® Application Guide, “The ISA Certified Arborist® credential is subject to ongoing requirements, such as participation in continuing education activities and abiding by the ISA Certified Arborist® Code of Ethics.” This ethical code details and dictates all aspects of a tree removal company’s professional behavior, including how well they comply with laws, regulations and standards, how truthfully they represent information to customers, municipalities, and certification agencies, how to avoid conflicts of interest, and much more.

The entire ISA Code of Ethics can be read here.

Finding Certified Tree Removal Near Me

If before you were wondering, “Why do we need an arborist with ISA Arborist Certification,” by now the answer should be clear: Hiring a tree removal service with Certified Arborist credentials takes the guesswork out of finding a knowledgeable, experienced, safety-oriented, ethical tree service provider. If you’re looking for such a tree service in the Nashville, TN or Middle TN areas, look no further than the certified specialists at The Parke Company.

Call us today at 615-350-6033 or contact us online!

Why Now Is the Best Time to Hire Irrigation Repair Services

Man repairing an irrigation system.

The cooler air in the mornings and at night serves as a reminder that fall is on its way, even in a warmer area like Nashville, TN. And as summer comes to a close, you might put lawn care on the back burner. Even a busted irrigation system might not seem like a pressing matter for a while, but waiting until spring to fix or install your watering system can be a costly and frustrating endeavor. Here are some reasons early autumn is actually the best time to hire irrigation repair services for your home or business.

Why Early Autumn is the Best Time to Hire Irrigation Repair Services

Soil Conditions Are Right for the Job

Irrigation installation and repairs are best done when the soil is relatively soft, somewhat moist, and neither too cool nor too hot. This goldilocks zone can be hard to come by, however. During the summer, soil temperatures are often in the upper 80s (Fahrenheit) and dry to boot. By September, these temperatures begin to drop until they’re in the 50s by November, and the soil softens significantly. Irrigation services can work more efficiently and do less damage to your lawn by tackling installations and repairs during this period, making fall the optimal time for them.

Steer Clear of Surge Pricing

Though autumn offers ideal conditions for irrigation repairs, most people are focused on lawn irrigation during the spring and summer. And when demand for irrigation services increases, so does the cost of these services. Put simply, attempting to tackle irrigation repair in the spring or summer is often much more expensive than waiting until fall when demand has died down. Likewise, it’s much easier to find a reliable repair company and schedule their services on short notice when their calendars aren’t so tightly wound. So, if you want to hire the best irrigation repair professionals at the best price, it’s wise to make this investment during the fall.

Lawn Aesthetics Won’t Matter as Much

People pay the most attention to their landscapes during the spring and summer. This is when it’s possible to achieve lush green lawns and take advantage of all the seasonal flowers in bloom. While you don’t want your lawn to look dishevelled outside of these seasons, fall debris and cooler temperatures will render even the most well-kempt lawns inert for some time. Knowing this, hiring landscaping services to fix your irrigation system during fall is completely practical. After all, these repairs often involve digging up portions of your lawn – something you won’t want to do during the spring and summer when the goal is to keep up exterior appearances. By tackling this project during the fall, you won’t have to feel so self-conscious about what your lawn looks like, since the landscapes around you will also be dealing with seasonal issues of their own (e.g., dormant grass, fallen leaves, etc.).

One Less Thing to Worry About in the Spring

Spring may be the start of the landscaping season, but you won’t want to battle a broken irrigation system as you prepare to revive your lawn. It’s much better to get your watering solutions in order before winter so you can hit the ground running as soon as spring arrives – this means tackling irrigation repair and installation during the fall. You’ll thank yourself in a matter of months for getting it done at this time rather than waiting.

Lawn Irrigation Services Near Me

There’s still plenty of time in Nashville to address any irrigation concerns you may have, but don’t wait too long. The Parke Company would be happy to be your choice for irrigation installation, repairs, and upgrades this season and beyond. We are passionate about cultivating a beautiful landscape for your home, office, or municipal property. Call us today at 615-350-6033 or contact us online!

Landscaping Design Services: Enhance Your Property Value

Flower and a sprinkler knob.

Home prices are trending upward in Nashville, TN and most other regions in the U.S. That said, if you’re planning on selling your home, you’re not guaranteed to get the price you’re looking for without putting in some effort. Your home must be in pristine condition inside and out to boost your bargaining power. And a potential buyer’s first impression of your home can make all the difference. Indeed, curb appeal is king – and beyond cleaning your home’s exterior and updating its siding, you’ll want to make sure its green spaces are in order. An alluring landscape says a lot about you as a seller and shows off your property in its best possible light. With that in mind, here are some landscaping design services to invest in to increase your real estate asking price.

Landscape Installations

Most homeowners would prefer to install new landscape features that they can enjoy for themselves over the next several years or decades. However, investing in ornamental plantings, specimen trees, new pathways, retaining walls, window boxes, and other installments can give your curb appeal a relatively quick and highly effective boost when it’s time to sell. It’s wise to develop a larger landscape design plan before going forward with a new installation. This way, you won’t wastet time or money on features that don’t improve your property’s appearance. The designs with the broadest appeal are balanced, properly scaled, cohesive, and simple.

Tree Maintenance and Removal

Trees make up a significant portion of virtually any landscape, providing shade, history, and seasonal beauty. Without proper maintenance, however, trees can become liabilities rather than assets. Overgrown trees aren’t just eyesores – they may also threaten your home if they’re stationed too close (especially if they’re older and/or diseased). Cutting down trees is sometimes necessary as a last resort, but it’s better to prevent your trees from becoming serious threats in the first place. This is done via pruning, trimming, crown thinning, deadwood removal, and other maintenance means. In addition to ensuring the long-term health of your trees, taking care of them in these ways also maximizes their appearance to make your entire property more attractive. The same can be said for smaller trees and shrubs. The best landscape designers are equipped to shape your shrubs and trees to perfection while keeping them in good health year-round.

Irrigation Services

Irrigation might not seem too intertwined with landscape design, but consider how quickly grass and ground cover can wither, brown, and perish without a regular supply of water. Lawns of all sizes can be tricky to take care of, especially in a hot, sunny region like Nashville, TN. Landscape experts will implement modern irrigation methods to keep your lawn and gardens hydrated no matter how hot or dry it gets outside. In doing so, you can show off a lush, healthy, vibrant lawn to potential buyers before they even enter your home.

General Landscape Maintenance

Watering is just one of many aspects of proper landscape maintenance. If you want to land the highest bidder for your home, you must also consider bed maintenance, weeding, fertilization, beautification, enhancement, pruning, mulching, and more. Every landscape is unique, which is why your designers must offer a variety of landscaping services and solutions, such as fertilizer/mulch alternatives. Different maintenance and preparation solutions are necessary at different times of the year, too, even in an area like Nashville, TN, where winters are relatively mild. The more equipped your landscape provider is to care for your green spaces throughout the year, the better they’ll be able to optimize its appearance.

Emergency Storm Services

Nashville is no stranger to extreme weather. In the past couple of years alone, this area has had to face devastating tornadoes, floods, and more. A single severe weather event can damage or demolish even the most beautiful and well-kept landscape (not to mention homes and buildings themselves) and therefore diminish your property’s market value. As such, it’s imperative to work with a landscaping company that offers emergency landscaping and repair services. These services include damage assessments, debris clean-up, irrigation system repair, re-installations of softscapes, hardscapes, decor, and more. The sooner you can pick up the pieces after a major storm, the better your odds of landing a solid asking price for your home.

Finding the Right Landscape Designer in Your Area

When selling your home, getting the biggest bang for your buck is only possible with proper landscape design and maintenance. A quick online search for “landscape designers near me” will reveal countless options in Nashville, TN – save yourself some time by sticking with The Parke Company. We provide comprehensive, caring landscaping services, and we are passionate about cultivating a beautiful landscape for your home, office, or municipal property.

Call us today at 615-350-6033 or contact us online!

Top 3 Benefits of Irrigation Repair Services

Irrigation sprinkler

Even the most novice of gardeners knows that every plant needs two basic things: sunlight and water. And while you may not have absolute control over how much sunlight your lawn and garden receive, with the right irrigation system, you can ensure that your plants are given the precise amount of water that they need to meet their unique needs and truly thrive.

While it may be tempting to let nature take its course and leave watering your lawn up to the rain, a laissez-faire approach to caring for your landscape is a surefire recipe for a brown lawn and dead plants. Even in an area with heavy rainfall, an irrigation system will help ensure that you don’t have a waterlogged yard when the rain comes.

Irrigation systems are a great way to keep your lawn lush and verdant with very little work. And while irrigation systems do significantly reduce the amount of effort that you will need to put in to maintain your lawn, it is important to hire irrigation repair services from time to time.

Making sure that your irrigation system is regularly serviced is the key to keeping a healthy landscape. There are so many benefits to irrigation repair services: here are the top three.

Top Three Benefits of Irrigation Repair Services

Regular Repairs

It is possible for any technology to get damaged or function less efficiently over, and the same is certainly true for irrigation systems.

While irrigation systems are a “hands-free” method of lawn care, lawn irrigation systems can suffer damage due to inclement weather or from accidents like getting hit by the occasional lawn mower.

It is critical to enlist irrigation repair services because a damaged irrigation system could lead to a lawn that is underwatered or watered too much, leaving puddles in your lawn.

Backflow Testing

Backflow testing is another important method of irrigation system maintenance that many property owners forget about.

Backflow testing is a maintenance method that inspects irrigation systems to determine whether the water’s flow has reversed course and entered clean water lines.

Backflow is incredibly dangerous because contaminated water could be reentering clean water lines and contaminating the drinking water in your home. Backflow testing and prevention are essential to protecting yourself against disease or illness that can be caused by contaminated water.

Winterizing

Irrigation systems are not impervious to changes in the weather, so it is important to have your system serviced to adjust to the new seasons.

Winterizing your irrigation system is the best way to prevent water lines from freezing over the winter and causing irreparable damage to your lawn irrigation system.

Lawn Irrigation Services Near Me

Lawn irrigation is a great way to keep your landscape beautiful all year long, but it takes a professional to maintain and repair an irrigation system and ensure a full life cycle of the system.

The experienced professionals at The Park Company are experts in landscaping equipment and irrigation systems, as well as water resources and conservation, to ensure that your landscaping services are as good for the environment as they are for your property’s curb appeal.

Let The Parke Company be your choice for all of your lawn irrigation needs.

Landscaping services from a landscaping maintenance company like The Parke Company can help you protect and beautify your property without the hassle of tackling projects on your own or the damage of an inexperienced professional. For residential or commercial landscape services, give us a call at 615-350-6033 or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you!

Tree Cutting Service: How Tree Topping Kills Your Tree

Trees

Trees on your property can be great for a number of different reasons. They can provide vital shade during the hot and sunny seasons, they are crucial players in the environment, and they add an air of stately sophistication to any landscape.

Even if you love your trees, they may need maintenance from time to time. It may seem like tree trimming and maintenance is fairly self-explanatory, but proper care for your trees may be a lot more complicated than you had imagined.

Tree care is much more precise than just cutting off long branches or shaping a tree to your liking– mistakes like these may even cost you the health of your tree. Here is what you need to know.

What to Know About Tree Topping

What Is Tree Topping?

The process known as tree topping is an attempt to shorten a tree, but through methods that will ultimately result in irreversible damage.

When a tree is topped, the central stem– or leader, as it is also known– is removed, as well as the other upper main branches.

Ultimately, tree topping will result in thin, upright branches near the top, known as water sprouts.

Why Topping Trees Is Bad

Tree topping is a bad landscaping practice for a number of reasons. First and foremost, a tree that has been topped is very unsightly, with water sprouts growing in ways that do not appear natural or uniform to the rest of the tree.

When the tree is cut near the top branches, it is now vulnerable to disease and decay. Additionally, water sprouts are very delicate and have shallow anchors in the rest of the tree, which can easily break off in a storm.

Tree topping is bad for your trees because the trimming leaves wounds in the tree that leave it susceptible to disease or pests. Tree topping is also bad because it removes the leaf surface area, which is vital for a tree’s photosynthesis and nutrient production. Without this leaf coverage, central parts of the tree are also exposed to the harsh sun, which can significantly damage the trunk and bark.

Tree Cutting Services Near Me

It is sometimes necessary to reduce the height of a tree so that it does not interfere with a house or powerlines. While this kind of trimming may be necessary, it will inevitably result in a damaged and unsightly tree.

If your trees need trimming, don’t let power companies with little landscaping knowledge hack away at your trees and cause irreversible damage. Experienced professionals from a landscaping and tree cutting company can use methods like drop crocheting to cut down branches to a lower branch that can solve height-related issues without permanently damaging your trees.

Let The Parke Company be your choice for all of your tree cutting needs.

Landscaping services from a landscaping maintenance company like The Parke Company can help you protect and beautify your property without the hassle of tackling projects on your own or the damage of an inexperienced professional. For residential or commercial landscape services, give us a call at 615-350-6033 or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you!