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Arbor Day in Nashville — How Will You Celebrate?

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

Earth Day has gone down in the books as another successful recognition of our beautiful planet. So what’s next? Good thing Arbor Day is just around the corner. A day to recognize and plant beloved trees is not only great, but also important. Founded in 1872, more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska where the holiday originated. Today, people around the country celebrate Arbor Day (most commonly celebrated on the last Friday of April) to promote treecare and tree awareness.

Here are some activities any aspiring arborist can do to celebrate Arbor Day.

Plant a tree — this is the most simple and logical way to celebrate. If you want to plant a tree but don’t know how, The Parke Company can assist you in planting trees on your property and teach your appropriate treecare for the future.

Spend some time outside — Visit Centennial Park or take a hike in Edwin Warner. Take an arborist as your guide to enlighten your outing. Gather your friends and plan a landscape makeover for a public area in Nashville or in Middle Tennessee. Or you can visit a local arboretums, such as The Hermitage, Cheekwood or Vanderbilt.

Learn something new — Read a book on treecare or attend a class about gardening or planting trees. If you are the head of an organization or a committee, plan a tree trivia contest to test everyone’s knowledge of Arbor Day.

You don’t have to be an arborist to enjoy the holiday. Arbor Day can be a fun way to acknowledge the trees we sometimes take for granted. Dedicating a day once a year to plant and appreciate trees is an important measure to maintaining Nashville’s natural beauty. No matter how you choose to celebrate it, be sure to take some time and admire the trees around you. For questions about your trees or treecare, the Parke Company is readily available to answer any questions. For more information, call 615-405-6548. Happy Arbor Day!

Fire, Foliage and Fourth of July: How the Parke Company Can Help

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

Fourth of July is right around the corner. Fireworks in Riverfront Park, cookouts in Centennial Park and pool parties in your backyard are just some of the things people do to celebrate America’s independence. However, with celebrating, comes a responsibility for your loved ones. According to National Fire Protection Association study issued last year, over 15,000 firework-induced fires were reported. Not only can these fires result in hundreds of dollars in property damage, but it can also cause bodily injury to you or a loved one. So while you, your friends and family gather around your backyard to celebrate, make sure you have taken all the proper precautions necessary if you plan on setting off a few fireworks.

Have a fallen tree in your back yard? Call the Parke Company to have the tree removed. This will prevent any unnecessary problems if a firework flies in that direction.

Have any deadwood or brush that needs to be removed? Same with a fallen tree, the Parke Company can assist in removing any deadwood or brush that could be potentially hazardous during Independence Day festivities.

Have any overgrowth that needs that needs to be cut back or even removed. Have any landscaping questions? Not only can overgrowth upset the ambiance of a barbeque, but it can also “fuel the fire” if the overgrowth is out of hand. Call the Parke Company for any landscaping or design questions you have before the holiday.

There are many things to consider before hosting your 4th of July get-together in Middle Tennessee — from bratwursts to party music to even deadwood. Celebrate this year’s Independence Day with ease and schedule your tree maintenance or landscaping needs now before it is too late. Call the Parke Company at (615) 405-6548 for more information.

Invasive Species Plague Nashville Trees and Plants

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

Invasive plant species are nothing to laugh about. Though self-explanatory, these species can be dangerous for your “urban forest”, including your trees. Not only are they hard to identify if you’re unsure, but they also are hard to get rid of without professional help. The Parke Company can help in identifying these species and show you the proper steps in getting rid of your invasive species.

According to the UGA Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, there are 403 invasive species reported within the state of Tennessee including herbs, grass, trees, shrubs, vines and aquatic plants. Annually, invasive species cost the state of Tennessee about $2.6 million. Davidson County is the second largest county with the most reported invasive species at 293. Though prominent, if you can identify and understand what these species do, you’re one step closer in making sure your trees and yard stays happy and healthy.

Top four invasive species in Nashville, Tenn.:

1. Bush Honeysuckle (Asian Bush Honeysuckle) — This is a very prominent bush around Middle Tennessee, and is made up of about five species. The scrubby underbrush spreads by birds who feed off their fruits. Originally native to Asia, these invasive species can harm native plants and have negative impacts on wilderness regeneration. This shrubs can range anywhere from five to 20 feet and produce yellow flowers and red and orange fruits.

2. Japanese Honeysuckle — The Japanese Honeysuckle is a vine that grows and twists up small trees and limbs. Native to Japan and Korea, this perennial has few natural threats in the Nashville area. It grows fast and can overtake native species quickly. Its prey (small trees and shrubs) can die if the honeysuckle grows and twists too tightly around the plant preventing water intake. In addition, the dense growth of the vine can prevent necessary sunlight. The Japanese Honeysuckle can reach up to 80 feet long and can reach up to 2 inches thick. During the spring and summer, the plant has fragrant white and/or yellow flowers.

3. Japanese Privet: Similar to the Japanese honeysuckle, the Japanese Privet can dominate plants by dense growth and prevent sunlight, which in turn, can kill native species. Often found along fencerows, streams and forest margins, this plant has rapid reproduction rates in a variety of habitats, which makes them hard to eradicate. Japanese Privet can grow up to 30 feet tall, with shallow but extensive roots. With aromatic blossoms during the springtime, the branches arch downward.

4. Japanese Stiltgrass: This grass grows in low light and moist to dry locations. The plant sprawls out in large patches throughout these areas invading other plants. The species has long, pale green leaves that range from 1 to 3 inches. The stiltgrass can reach a height of 3.5 feet virtually killing off native species that can’t compete.

From Bellevue to East Nashville, invasive species are common problems within the city, as well as the surrounding county. It’s important to be able to identify and treat the problem before they harm your trees and other plants. The Parke Company can help answer any questions or help identify any invasive plants you might have on your property. For more information or a free estimate, email danbeasley@theparkecompany.com. For more information on invasive species, visit www.tneppc.org.

Service: Installing a New Irrigation System

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

The Parke Company irrigation installation services in Nashville

If you’ve been thinking of ways to keep your yard looking its best, you may want to have an irrigation system installed. Planned irrigation and landscaping can help conserve water while promoting a vibrant, green property. Installing a new system will also make your life easier and add value to your property. You may be concerned about what installation will look like. Here are some things you should know about irrigation systems as well as good questions to ask your irrigation contractor.

• Any landscaping plans should be put in place ahead of time so that your lawn can be organized in terms of watering zones. Each plant, bush and tree requires different amounts of water and it may be helpful to group them by how much water is needed.

• Your contractor might need to do a survey of the property to check water pressure and flow rate in terms of gallons per minute before installing the irrigation system.

• A helpful installer will analyze conditions such as amount of sun or shade, condition of soil and slope of the property while planning out the location of sprinkler heads. You can always ask to look at a scale drawing that shows placement of sprinkler heads and marked zones.

• Ask about warranty, policies and maintenance issues such as winterization. This will be beneficial for any follow-up contacts with the company.

Well-designed irrigation systems can actually save you money through smart water usage and proper timing. Make sure the professional assistance you seek is from a certified irrigation contractor or certified irrigation auditor. Parke Irrigation provides a team of experts dedicated to proper installation, revitalization of an existing system, repairs or irrigation audits while maintaining adequate safety regulations. Contact Parke at 615.350.6033 for any landscape and irrigation needs.

Safely Relocating Nashville Animals When Trees Need to be Removed

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

Sometimes when you, the customer and the Parke Company embarks on a tree job, the tree must come down. And sometimes, little critters have built homes for themselves and their young in those trees. So what are you to do? Thankfully, there are organizations and specialists that assist you and the Parke Company when having to deal with the tree inhabitants. From snakes to owls, the Parke Company does their best to ensure safety and shelter for all of Nashville’s animals.

If the tree must come down, the Parke Company relocates the animal to a safe location or a rehabilitation center if necessary. Many times, if the animals are young without a mother, this is a good option. If the tree does not have to come down, the Parke Company does their best to work around the nest or inhabitant, leaving the animals happy and undisturbed.

Popular critters living in trees in Nashville and Middle Tennessee are birds, snakes, raccoons, opossums, squirrels and bats. When an animal needs to be relocated or rehabilitated, the Parke Company calls Walden’s Puddle or Nashville Critter Ridder for assistance. Walden’s Puddle is a non-profit facility that provides treatment and care to sick, orphaned or injured wildlife in Middle Tennessee. Nashville Critter Ridder specializes in safe removal and/or extermination of wildlife as well as prevention and repair services.

It’s not uncommon to get up close and personal with some of Tennessee’s wildlife while repairing or removing trees.

“In the four hundred year-old Bur Oak at Bell Meade Country Club, I got to climb past a mother owl and three snow, white babies,” Parke Company’s Rich Krivack said. “It was awesome!”

In the event the Parke Company comes across a bird of prey that must be safely relocated, an aviary specialist is called in to assist the crew. The same is true for dangerous insects and their nests such as bees and wasps (hornets and yellow jackets). Once a nest is found, a specialist is called to help assist in the safe removal.

For more information on Parke Company’s protocol for safe wildlife removal, call them at 615-405-6548.