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How To Decorate Trees and Bushes Safely for Christmas

September 30, 2026April 19, 2023 by The Parke Company

Your Christmas gifts to the children? Toys and games. Your gift to Santa? Milk and cookies. Your gift to the neighbors? A festive yard, tastefully decorated for the holidays.

From decorator’s magazines to holiday movie classics like A Christmas Story, inspiration abounds. Possibilities for holiday landscape decorating range from the outlandish to the refined. Some homeowners prefer the simplicity of white lights sparingly draped around small pines or other conifers. Others may enjoy the delicate look of muted, duo-toned, fragile ornament balls and glass icicles.

And then there are always the show (and traffic) stoppers: The life-sized, inflatable, “Santa-in-his-sleigh-with-reindeer” on the roof; Goliath-sized candy canes lining the front walk; and enough multi-colored, flashing lights to require installation of an additional electrical service box.

Usually interested in giving advice about a different type of tree trimming, Tree Service of Nashville offers a few ideas about deciduous and evergreen adornment. Applying principles of interior decorating to exterior holiday decorating will not only give your yard style, it’ll also save you time for holiday shopping when you nail that tasteful look the first time.

1. Consider the overall space to maintain balance. Take stock of the number of lights, ornaments, etc. you have on hand and don’t over-embellish one area at the expense of another.

2. Stick to a decorating theme. Don’t use small ornaments in one area and large in another. If you have both on hand, mix throughout your foliage.

3. Pay attention to the details. Just because ornaments are in the yard doesn’t mean they should get away with being shabby. Toss out any broken ornaments or frayed ribbon and garland.

Of course these principles can apply to many aspects of yard design year-round. From lawn mowing to tree removal, Tree Service of Nashville can show you how quality lawn services can make you a favorite among your East Nashville, Belle Meade or Brentwood neighbors. For information on best practices for lawn maintenance, contact Tree Service of Nashville today!

The Benefits of Fall Planting

September 30, 2026April 19, 2023 by The Parke Company

As the leaves begin to change colors and the winds shift and become cooler, that can only mean one thing: It’s time to plant!

Jason Underwood, Landscape Department Leader of The Parke Company, says that the fall weather creates the perfect conditions for planting.

“Weather conditions are cool and allow plants to establish roots in the new location before spring rains and summer heat stimulate new top growth,” Underwood says.

The top half of the trees slow their growth and, instead, the roots become the focus of growth.

“As tree shoot growth halts, the trees require less water because the days are cooler and shorter and the rate of photosynthesis decreases,” Underwood says. “Stable air temperatures also promote rapid root development. Soils stay warm well after the air temperature cools, also encouraging root growth. During shoot dormancy, trees grow to establish roots in new locations before warm weather stimulates top growth.”

Trees planted in the fall have time to establish a hardy root base and are better equipped to deal with heat and drought the following season.

But according to Underwood, fall planting is perfect for all species.

“Avoid planting broad leaved evergreens in the fall such as rhododendrons, azaleas, boxwoods and hollies,” he says. “If planted, provide them with protection from winter winds and have them treated with an anti-desiccant.”

Another good thing about fall planting: Fewer weeds, insects and other pests are present in the cooler fall temperatures, allowing for much-needed growth in plants and trees.

If you have questions about fall planting, leaf collection or tree care as the weather continues to cool, please contact us.

How to Start Your Own Backyard Composting System

September 30, 2026April 19, 2023 by The Parke Company

It’s a beautiful time of year. The air is cool and crisp. Comfy, beautiful sweaters are making their way from the back of the closet. And leaves are changing colors all over the country. Beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow take the place of vibrant spring greens.

And then, those leaves fall to the ground.

It becomes quite a chore for homeowners to keep up with the falling leaves during fall and winter lawn care, but instead of bagging and sending them to the landfill. There is another option: composting.

Starting a backyard composting system is fairly easy and requires three basic ingredients: “browns,” “greens,” and water.

The “browns” in the composting recipe are those beautiful colorful (but dead) leaves, branches and twigs that have fallen from trees, shrubs, bushes. The “greens” in the mix refer to fresh grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peels and waste, and even coffee grounds.

Start a compost pile (or fill a bin) now with those three ingredients, turn and mix frequently, and you’ll have ready-to-use compost in as little as two months. You’re basically creating the food for the following season’s landscaping.

For more on starting your own composting system, what to use and what not to use, visit TreeHugger.com.

Tree Trimming or Removal? What’s the Right Call?

September 30, 2026April 19, 2023 by The Parke Company

We have specialty doctors for every possible illness and bodily function: podiatrists, dentists, internists, cardiologists, oncologists. We have specialty veterinarians for our precious pets: equine, avian, canine, feline. And yes, we even have tree doctors, and you can find them right here in Middle Tennessee.

Tree Service of Nashville has expert tree doctors who have years of experience in caring for diseased and decaying trees. But how do you know when your tree is in need of a doctor’s care?

The first thing is if there’s any question, call an expert and they should come out for free and assess it. There are several common signs of tree decay which may be overlooked, such as dead branches, leaves drying up in specific areas, a blemish on the trunk, or anything out of the ordinary.

It may be difficult to notice these signs in late fall and winter when leaves have already fallen, but in the spring, when trees start leafing out, one symptom of a tree in trouble–asymmetry in a tree’s canopy–will be evident.

While disease and pests are the most common causes of tree decline, some tree problems are the result of “mechanical injuries,” in which an object has caused injury to the tree. An example of a mechanical injury is when a sapling is nicked or scraped during lawn mowing. It kills tree the tree from that point up. It may be 10-20 years down the road before the damage shows up.

Tree removals might not be necessary, and a concerned homeowner should call a tree company to assess the problem. At Tree Service of Nashville, we offer tree removal services in all areas, from Brentwood to Hendersonville and beyond, but we first invest in keeping trees alive.

Trees often can have diseases, but trees are treatable. Instead of spending a thousand dollars to cut down a tree, you may just spend a couple hundred to apply an infecticide or insecticide treatment to keep it alive for another 20 years.

For more information on tree services, such as removal of tree, tree trimming, and treating or removing damaged trees, contact Tree Service of Nashville today.

How to Expect for the Unexpected

September 30, 2026April 19, 2023 by The Parke Company

In less than two weeks the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, will climb out of his burrow and predict the weather for the rest of the winter season. Will there be six more weeks of cold or will the flowers of spring blossom early? We will find out the groundhog’s prediction soon enough, but one thing is for sure — Mother Nature can be a fickle woman to Middle Tennessee. One day it can be sunny and warm, and the next it’s sleeting rain. It’s never too late to prepare your landscape and trees for possible weather damage — and the Parke Company is just the company to help you.

1. Don’t procrastinate. Before another drastic and damaging storm hits — have your trees seen about to make sure they’re stable and secure.

If there are any dead or dying branches, have them removed immediately. These dying parts in the tree canopies, also called deadwood, need to be removed immediately before a storm hits. This is not only safe for the tree — but also you and your property.

Make any necessary improvements and/or repairs. This means any necessary cabling or bolting to the joints of trees. If branches are weak and need structural support, these services would be a great asset to ensure the prosperity of your tree.

2. Plan for the future. Anything can happen. Make sure your trees are ready for the unexpected and make sure you’re armed with the right knowledge and tools to do so.

Erratic weather can seriously confuse plants. A few days of warm weather can cause trees wake from dormancy and bud early. If followed by freezing conditions, biological problems can be severe. The Parke Company can arm you with ways to help protect your plants and how to look for these issues as they appear.

If you plan to transplant any trees, it’s a good idea to do so during the tree’s winter dormancy. The risk of damaging your tree is much higher during the spring and summer because new growth begins, including growing roots.

Plant health care is a great way to plan for spring. The Parke Company implements a health care program that not helps protect trees against disease and insect infestation, but also assess proper fertilization and water conditions for healthy, beautiful trees.

The best tool you have in your belt is making sure you plan ahead for the unexpected. Although you may not always be able to count on the weather, you can always count on The Parke Company to guide you through any future planning for your landscape and trees. Contact us today for a free estimate!