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Why Choose Shredded Pine Mulch?

March 7, 2024May 25, 2021 by The Parke Company

Even for the experienced green thumb, it can take a lot to get your garden looking the way you desire. Between choosing soil, fertilizer, and irrigation methods, the options may seem endless for your landscape.

Mulch is one of the most commonly used materials for improving and protecting your landscape, but with all of the different options, which type of mulch should you choose?

Pine mulch is a perfect option for many property owners, but is it right for you? Today on the blog, we explore the FAQ: why choose shredded pine mulch? Here is what you need to know before making this important gardening decision.

The Benefits of Shredded Mulch

Aesthetics

While mulch does help to nourish and protect the soil in which your plants will grow, it also adds aesthetic interest to your yard.

A number of different materials can be used in your yard as mulch, including things like shredded newspaper, food scraps, and pieces of cardboard. While all of these materials may be readily available to you, not many people desire the appearance of what looks like piles of trash in their yard.

Some mulches like rubber pellets have a more uniform appearance, but they do not look nearly as natural as a material like shredded pine mulch.

Pine mulch is a design option that can cohesively blend in with your landscape’s design and the environment to avoid mulch that sticks out like a sore thumb like newspaper or table scraps may.

Shredded pine mulch is also available in a wide variety of colors if you are looking to match a landscape design or blend in with a particular area of your property.

Environment Friendliness

Recycling can be beneficial for the environment, but with the limited number of materials that can actually be processed through recycling, in addition to the energy used to recycle materials in a plant, reusing or repurposing is an even better choice for the environment.

Some mulches contain harmful chemicals that are obviously antagonistic to the environment, but even rubber pellet mulch requires more material to be produced than other methods.

Shredded pine mulch is an environmentally friendly method of mulching your yard because it repurposes materials that have already been in circulation rather than producing something new.

Mulch is also environmentally friendly because it is made of all natural materials. While some mulches may contain dyes if you choose a colored option, raw mulch is entirely natural on its own and does not introduce any foreign chemicals to your landscape.

Cost Effectiveness

Some landscape installations like water features and pavers can be incredibly expensive, but shredded pine mulch is a great way to improve the appearance and health of your property without breaking the bank.

Mulch can be purchased by the bag, and you can decide precisely how much or how little you want to disperse over your property. Mulch is very easy to fit to your exact budget since brands and quality vary so widely.

Contact The Parke Company Today!

Choosing shredded pine mulch may be a no-brainer, but most landscaping projects take a lot more expertise than picking out a bag at the lawn and garden center of your local hardware store.

If you are looking to beautify your landscape, make sure you enlist the right kind of landscaping maintenance company for your projects.

Whether it is lawn mowing, leaf removal, or more complex projects like hardscape installation, The Parke Company is the right landscaping company for the job. Our experienced professionals are ready to develop a landscaping plan that works for your property and your budget. For residential or commercial landscape maintenance, give us a call (615-350-6033) or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you!

How to Use Leaves as Fertilizer

August 26, 2024May 12, 2021 by The Parke Company

For the typical green thumb, it goes without saying that you care a lot about the environment.

Chances are that you do everything within your power to help preserve the beautiful earth you nurture on your property, and you try to sustain the rest of the earth as well.

Conscientious efforts like recycling can have a positive impact, as they often reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and help to lower the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

One thing you may not have realized, however, is that repurposing is even more effective and sustainable than recycling. While recycling can be tricky, as many products are incompatible with the recycling process and greenhouse gases are produced during part of the recycling process, repurposing is a fantastic way to reduce waste and cut demand while meeting the needs of your landscape.

One of the best ways to do this is through using leaves as a fertilizer. Here are the best tips on forgoing leaf removal and using leaves as fertilizer from the landscaping professionals at The Parke Company.

How to Repurpose Leaves

Leaves as Mulch

Using leaves as mulch is a great way to improve your landscape in a sustainable manner, but it is only beneficial if you do it correctly.

To use your leaves as fertilizer, there are a few things you must do first.

In general, it is best to use leaves that are dry first. If you have wet leaves, you may want to gather and lay them out to allow them to dry. These leaves should then be crushed to spread evenly across your garden or whatever area needs fertilized.

If you have piles of damp leaves with trapped moisture, however, those are not completely lost. These leaves are now decomposing and can still help the state of your garden.

It is best to place the leaves a few inches around trees or shrubs to ensure that you are insulating but not suffocating your landscaping features.

Landscape Benefits

Just like typical mulch, recycled leaves as mulch can benefit your garden in a variety of ways.

Leaves can serve as a tremendous insulator and help to trap heat, protecting some of your more temperature-sensitive plants.

Compost or mulch of any kind can also help to improve the quality of soil. Composting materials from the leaves can improve the fertility of your soil as well as increase the retention of moisture.

Using leaves as a fertilizer is a cost-effective and sustainable way to improve the quality of your garden, all while using materials you already have on your property.

Contact The Parke Company Today

Using leaves can be a great way to save money and beautify your property in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, but to the untrained person, it may be difficult to figure out just where to start.

Avoid the danger and expense of a project gone sideways by hiring the right landscaping maintenance company to meet your specific needs. Whether it is lawn mowing, leaf removal, or more complex projects like hardscape installation and tree trimming, The Parke Company is the right landscaping company for the job.

Our experienced professionals are ready to develop a landscaping plan that works for your property and your budget. Don’t leave your landscaping maintenance up to chance. Give us a call (615-350-6033) or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you.

How to Fix an Old Yard at Your New Home

March 7, 2024April 23, 2021 by The Parke Company

Few things are as exciting as purchasing a new house. Whether the home is brand new or a fixer-upper, there will be plenty of adventures ahead. But before you start making memories, you may have a few things to check off your to-do list.

Even the newest home sits on land that has been there for ages, so it is crucial to give your landscape as much TLC as you give to the home’s interior and exterior.

How to Fix Up an Old Yard

Evaluation

If you have just moved into a new home, prioritizing your projects is key. While renovating the bathroom or installing new kitchen cabinets may be a fun idea, it is critical to consider which projects present the greatest need and complete them in order of importance. While your landscape design may seem like a task that can be left on the backburner, the health of your future landscape is a direct contributor to the health of your property value overall.

Unhealthy trees can pose a serious fall risk if not properly addressed, putting your new home and your family in direct danger. Certain fungi, bacteria, and other invasive species can also threaten the health and safety of pets, young children, and your designed plants if they are not dealt with immediately.

It is crucial to understand the state of your home’s landscape to grasp how and when it should be fixed. Especially due to the seasonal nature of landscaping, it is important to catch issues quickly, so you don’t have to wait for the next spring thaw to address them.

Identification

You can’t fix an old yard if you don’t truly know what you’re dealing with. Especially if you have moved to a new neighborhood or a completely different geographical location from what you are used to, you will need to learn about your new climate.

This is precisely why it is important to hire the right landscaping services provider to meet your needs. Your landscaping professional should have an acute understanding of your specific landscape and the needs of all the plants on your property. To fix an old yard, identify the specific species of plants on your property and work with a landscaping technician to understand your lawn and garden’s needs before you start attempting to fix an old yard.

Repair

Once you understand your landscape, the next logical step is to hire the right services to help you get your yard looking the way you want it to.

Whether through general landscaping services or something more elaborate like a hardscape installation, the best way to tackle an old, disheveled yard is by hiring an expert to get your landscaping project done right the first time.

Contact The Parke Company Today!

Buying a new home is nerve-wracking and exciting enough without the added stress of landscaping renovations. Even so, the fun of interior design can be brought outdoors when you enlist the right kind of landscaping maintenance company for your projects.

What Is a Tree Surgeon?

March 7, 2024April 8, 2021 by The Parke Company

The professionals at landscaping maintenance companies are always wearing a few different hats. Some may spend time designing landscapes, planting gardens, or even installing things like ponds and gazebos.

When it comes to the more complicated projects for your landscape, it is critical to hire the right person for the job. In many cases, you may need a specialist– known as a tree surgeon– without even knowing it.

A tree surgeon is not the same as any general landscaping services provider, and the job is even different from a standard arborist.

What to Know About Tree Surgeons

Tree Surgeon vs. Arborist

On the surface, a tree surgeon and an arborist may seem like they do the same thing: both work with trees and maintain their health. But what exactly separates a tree surgeon from an arborist?

Arborists and tree surgeons both manage the care of a tree, but they do so in some critically different ways.

An arborist has extensive knowledge of the trees they are tending. It is the job of an arborist to identify any disease or issue in a tree and design the best plan of action for returning the tree to health. Arborists are wonderful for those looking to plant trees that do not yet exist since an arborist can help you determine which trees will grow best in your landscape.

Tree surgeons also have a great deal of knowledge regarding the trees they work with, but the tasks they perform are much different. Just like a surgeon you may see for a knee replacement, tree surgeons are typically called upon when a significant issue has been detected.

After an arborist or other landscaping professional diagnoses the problem with your tree, a tree surgeon will handle the procedure. Tree surgeons complete tree trimming, tree felling, and even stump grinding to best serve the needs of the landscape. Tree surgery requires an individual with great skill since it can be a very dangerous job. The job must be completed perfectly, or you risk a tree falling on a home, car, or even a person.

When Should I Call a Tree Surgeon?

When you have dead, decaying trees that need to be removed, a tree surgeon should be called immediately to mitigate the risk of a tree falling.

Tree surgeons are necessary for any project that requires cutting a tree. From crown thinning to canopy raising to weight removal, a tree surgeon must be called for all tree projects to ensure the best care for your trees, your landscape, and your family.

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Not all tree surgeons are the same. When it comes to tree surgery, you need a highly qualified technician to do the job right the first time. Avoid the danger and expense of a project gone sideways by hiring the right landscaping maintenance company to meet your specific needs. Whether it is lawn mowing, leaf removal, or more complex projects like hardscape installation, The Parke Company is the right landscaping company for the job.

Can You Over-Mulch?

March 7, 2024March 25, 2021 by The Parke Company

As a proud property owner, you are doing everything you can to help your lawn flourish. Between irrigation systems, careful monitoring, and hiring the perfect landscaping services, decisions like mulching may seem simple. While it may not be as intricate of a process or as overwintering or a hardscape installation, mulching is much more complex than it may seem.

Let’s explore the complexities of mulching so we can assure you don’t over-mulch and hurt the lawn you’ve worked so hard to maintain.

Is it Possible to Over-Mulch?

Over Mulching

Mulch is great for your lawn and garden when it is done correctly. It can fertilize and protect your landscape to create the lush, beautiful backyard or garden you’ve always dreamed of.

Unfortunately, there are a number of different things that can go wrong when you over-mulch. One of the worst effects of over-mulching is the suffocation of plants. Dropping too much mulch around the roots of your trees or plants can cut off the roots’ ability to absorb nutrients and grow.

In addition to stifling the growth of plants, large piles of mulch can also harbor plant disease.

Typically, mulch is a great way for your soil to retain moisture and nourish plants. But when too much mulch is used, the mulch traps moisture without releasing it, which can lead to mildew and rot of your plants’ roots.

Mulching Done Right

Mulching right isn’t easy, but it also isn’t impossible if you’re willing to do a bit of work in your yard. When deciding how much mulch to use, it’s essential to choose the right type of mulch for your yard. There are important decisions to make regarding organic versus inorganic mulch, color, material, and other factors when deciding what will be best for your yard.

Especially if you are a landscaping novice, you may want to contact a landscaping company to help determine which type of mulch will have the greatest impact on your landscape’s health and fit your budget. Once you’ve determined the type of mulch you want to use, determining the amount of mulch to use takes some simple calculation and observation.

Watch out for mulch “volcanoes”, the pyramid shapes that form at the bottom of your tree or plant’s roots. These mulch volcanoes are an indication you’ve over-mulched and are sure to trap moisture that will rot of your plants. You can also check a tree’s roots to double-check that you have not mulched too much. The roots should always be visible. If they aren’t, you’ve probably over-mulched.

The easiest and most efficient way to determine how much mulch is right is by hiring high-quality landscaping services to figure it out for you. Expert professionals like those at The Parke Company can quickly and efficiently determine the right type and amount of mulch for your lawn. By hiring lawn services, you avoid the hassle of repairing damaged plants and save yourself the headache of trying to uncode the formula for the perfect amount of mulch.

Contact The Parke Company Today

Even if your mulching project starts off with good intentions, things can quickly go awry if you don’t know how to do it right. Avoid the hassle and the mess of a project gone sideways by hiring the right landscaping maintenance company to meet your specific needs. Whether it is lawn mowing, leaf removal, or more complex projects like hardscape installation, The Parke Company is the right landscaping company for the job.