Tree Maintenance for Winter – How to Prepare for the Unexpected

Nashville’s eclectic. It’s culture presence, it’s people and of course, it’s climate. One day Nashvillians can be enjoying a warm, beautiful day at Percy Warner Park and the next bundled up in front of a fire watching the snowfall.

That’s why it’s important for the people of Music City to be prepared for all weather extremes and abnormal temperatures. From deadwood removal to removing trees, The Parke Company is certified in all treecare and tree removal services and provides both residential and commercial tree maintenance throughout all of Middle Tennessee.

While it’s unusually warm, consider taking care of your all routine tree maintenance now. This way, you’re protected and ready to go if a winter storm hits. Some of the benefits of routine tree maintenance include:

1. Deadwood removal — This service is often overlooked during the winter months but should be an important to-do for everyone’s checklist. Heavy snow and ice on an already dead branch can be potentially disastrous. The Parke Company will remove all dead and diseased branches from the trees to ensure safety for the tree and your property. The last thing you need on Christmas Day is a power outage in result of fallen branches.

2. Debris Services — Strong storm winds can easily pick up these loose items and cause severe damage to your property. Clean up all those natural materials around your property such as fallen limbs, debris and logs as for both an aseptically pleasing and safety measure.

3. Firewood — Going out in the bitter cold to find firewood doesn’t sound appealing to anyone. So make sure you’ve got all the proper materials for a cozy fire while the weather is still nice. Not only will this be less of a chore, but you’re killing two birds with one stone by gathering firewood while you’re taking care of other tree maintenance.

In the event an extreme weather storm arrives in Middle Tennessee and the unexpected happens, the crew at The Parke Company is ready for all your emergency needs. For further questions about your maintenance and emergency situations, contact the experts at (615) 405-6548 or email danbeasley@theparkecompany.com.

Do Your Trees Need to Be Trimmed?

We see it all too often: Trees are added to landscape and then forgotten about. Sure, they get water with the rest of the yard. But when was the last time you maintained your trees from the top down? Here are 4 ways to know when you’re trees need to be trimmed:

  1. Branches are drooping onto your roof. That’s never good. Trimming the branches from your roof will save you in roof repairs, prevent leaks and keep pests from having easy access to your home by traveling those branches.
  2. Branches are close to power lines. This becomes a safety issue, and one that should be taken care of quickly. Before leaves and branches actually touch the power lines, trimming is vitally important.
  3. Other plants, grasses aren’t thriving. If the grass, flowers and others plants in your landscaping aren’t thriving, it may be because they’re not getting adequate sunlight. Perhaps your trees are to blame. Trimming the trees in the form of crown thinning — allowing more natural sunlight to come through — can solve the problem.
  4. Branches are growing too close to the ground. If you find yourself hitting your head when you mow the yard, the canopy of your trees may need to be raised. This trimming technique removes the lower branches of the tree to provide plenty of headroom and airflow underneath.

If your trees are in needs of service — from raising the canopy to thinning the crown — please contact us. We strive to maintain your trees so that you get many more years of enjoyment from them.

How to Protect Nashville Trees from Construction

With a spike in our economy, there becomes an increase in construction. We’ve all seen it – in downtown Nashville for the new convention center, new education buildings at Belmont University and even new homes in West Nashville neighborhoods. But a common question that should be addressed is how to protect your trees when construction happens around your home or commercial business. There are many different precautions and the Parke Company can help you protect them through the duration of the project.

1. Protective fencing and signage – Protective fencing is always a highly recommended method for your trees. Many cities such as Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Brentwood and Belle Meade require this in constructions zones already. In addition, proper signage is a great way to alert construction zones of tree protection. The Parke Company can assist in providing proper signage as well as working with contractors and installing fences.

2. Transplants – Although this is best done during a tree’s dormancy period (fall and winter), transplanting your trees is a great way to ensure protection during construction. The Parke Company can advise in the proper protocol for this option and aide in transplanting during or at the end of the construction project.

3. Tree removal consultations – It is typically less expensive to remove the trees before construction begins, but first have the trees inspected for health and lifespan. The Parke Company will coordinate with building contractors and designers to assess what trees are worth protecting and worth saving. If you have begun construction already, don’t worry! It’s never too late to evaluate the health and longevity your trees

4. Chemical treatments – This is a much trickier option and takes experienced licensed professionals complete the job. However, these treatments use growth stimulators and regulators to control the growth rate of the tree as construction is going on.  Although chemical treatments do require professional help, the Parke Company is licensed company in the state of Tennessee (Tennessee Pesticide Charter #1868).

5. Root pruning – Have roots properly pruned underground before construction begins. This service will decrease negative impact on the trees, as well as minimize problems during construction.

Whether you want to use chemical treatments or simply surround your trees with a fence, The Parke Company is available to advise you with multiple options. Many times, coordinating ways to protect your trees with a professional and building supervisors before the construction begins is the most effective way to get the job done. Take the time to map out strategies for tree protection that works best for your project. For Music City to prosper and grow, construction will be necessary; however, do not forget about the health prosperity of Nashville’s trees.  The Parke Company is always readily available to give advice, provide services and answer your questions.

For more information, call 615-405-6548.

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

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.

 

For Beautiful Trees, Nashvillians Need to Look at Bigger Picture

A car is a complicated machine. From the engine to the oil filter each part is there to make sure you can get from point A to point B. It’s just as important to have your oil changes as it is to get your “check engine” light looked at. The same goes for your trees. While making sure the tree itself is healthy, it’s important to look at the big picture and make sure everything is maintained. This ensures trees live healthy and stable lives — prosperous beings right outside your bedroom window.

Nashvillians already know the dangers of harsh weather, especially during the winter and spring months. One day it can be 70 degrees and sunny and the next it can be freezing rain and icy roadways. That’s why taking care of storm damage is an equally important factor in tree maintenance. Erosion caused by storm water can lead to root problems, which in result, lead to stability and safety issues for your beloved trees. The Parke Company can help you correct the storm water damage and keep your trees stable and safe. Not only does storm damage prevention and repair ensure the strength and livelihood of trees and other plants, but it’s also a great opportunity to try something new for your landscape.

Storm water damage isn’t the only maintenance issue. Root pruning, soil testing and erosion control are also key factors in healthy trees. Just like a quick oil change or a tire rotation, everything must be maintained and in working condition. If not, the system can break down. The Parke Company can advise you in any questions you might have about any of these services and how to do them.

Always look at the big picture. Be aware of not just the tree itself, but the world around it. Just like a car, you wouldn’t only attend to the engine. Major changes such as storm water, soil conditions or infestation can become an overall problem. The Parke Company can help make sure your trees stay healthy and prosperous, no matter what the problem. For more information about The Parke Company’s services, contact them today!