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How To Guide: Produce Striking Landscape Combinations with Professional Help

March 7, 2024September 27, 2018 by The Parke Company

Whether your home’s landscape is just getting started or it has been an integral part of your estate for generations, improvements can always be made. Your home and property is an extension of yourself and an outward expression of who you are and what you value. The very fact that you are thinking of making changes says that there is something about your landscape that is nagging at you or some way that you envision it being different.

In both cases, if you are developing a landscape that complements your home for the first time or just tweaking an existing landscape, it is incredibly important that you turn to someone who will take the time to consider your specific goals and the particulars of your location and geography before making recommendations. At The Parke Company, we pride ourselves on our approach to landscape development and maintenance. Our years of experience coupled with our long list of landscaping services enables us to provide you with the individualized professional help you and your landscape deserve.

How to Get a Great Landscape Combination

First Steps in Landscape Development – Planning and Removal

When developing a new landscape or altering an existing one, the first step must be planning. The Parke Company has the experience to turn your landscaping dreams into a reality no matter what geological impediments stand in the way. We will work with you and with your landscape budget to develop a plan that complements your unique desires and situation.

While planning, it is important to know that one of the most crucial changes to your landscape may be the removal of existing landscape elements. To prepare your lawn or backyard for additions or alterations (or simply to open up space, allow for more light, or to maximize natural rainwater distribution) it is quite common to extract certain aspects before adding anything new.

Nashville’s Unique Landscape Options

The upside, or perhaps the downside, of landscape planning in Nashville is the vast array of options and possibilities. Depending on your budget and the unique characteristics of your property, almost anything you set your mind to can be achieved. On the one hand, homeowners should see this as an exciting perk to living in such a diverse and beautiful area. On the other hand, this may have a crippling impact on your ability to make decisions and prioritize changes to your landscape. All the more reason why you should look to a professional that knows the area and can help you make informed decisions that are right for you and your landscape, now and in the future.

Landscape Configurations and Combinations

A painting is much more than a bunch of individual brush strokes. A program code is much more than a list of 0s and 1s. Similarly, your landscape is much more than the features and plants that it contains. How each element of your landscape interacts with the others is incredibly important in developing the overall aesthetic and feeling you desire. Even with the best of intentions and a well developed, specific list of landscaping desires, if the configurations or combinations are wrong, the whole thing can fall flat. What looks beautiful or functionally efficient in your mind may not be so in reality. Even worse, if you have not thought long and hard about how the various aspects of your landscape will interact, the final product may lead to disastrous outcomes.

For example, there are certain landscaping elements whose placement must be considered first. Fire pits, swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are a few examples of such elements. For fire pits, or any type of outside heating source (such as grills, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, etc.), it is extremely important to take into consideration the surrounding landscape. Overhanging trees are of course a no-no as heat, sparks, or flames could ignite them leading to considerable, if not devastating, damage to your property and home. Less thought of are the types of plants growing near a heating source, but they are also important. Grasses, bushes, or shrubs that wither and die or shed leaves during colder months should not be placed near heating sources as the dead plant matter can easily ignite and quickly spread to an uncontainable fire.

Large sources of water must also be considered. Pools or fountains with cement walls can attract unwanted wandering roots that can crack or damage their foundations. Any water source that is not contained or leaks slightly can provide an overabundance of moisture for plants that prefer drier soils. Additionally, if placed in close proximity to a water source, plants that shed their leaves during the offseason can be a nuisance and, due to the increased need for leaf removal, can make pool, fountain, or pond maintenance increasingly difficult and expensive.

Just as there are configurations and combinations to avoid, there are also those that should be embraced. While some pairings are aesthetic, others focus on what is best for the plant species. Dark stone situated near green grass or brightly colored flowers can create a much desired visual contrast. Similarly, the look of manicured elements (such as topiaries) within a more wild or natural backdrop can create a yin and yang atmosphere. In such cases, it is also important to take into consideration the long-term costs associated with pruning. Placing edible plants near other flowers can help with cross-pollination leading to a greater likelihood of fruits and a decreased need for maintenance. However, in this specific case, it is also important to not place either of them too close to patios or outdoor sitting areas, especially if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, as the location of their flowers will increase the presence of these insects. In some cases, combinations can have both aesthetic and mutually beneficial results. For example, integration of various mulch types or rain gardens can be beautiful, but can also have the added benefit of increasing soil nutrients and moisture levels and retention.

Why The Parke Company is Nashville’s Go-To for Landscaping Combination Services

From moisture levels to shading to slope, every single landscape is different. What looks beautiful on your neighbor’s lawn or at your friend’s winter residence in Florida may not work in your backyard. Nashville’s unique climate offers many challenges, but also many rewards. When it comes to selecting the landscape configurations and combinations that are specifically right for you, it is important to turn to professionals who know the area well, can help you avoid common landscaping mistakes, and can provide you with open and honest feedback, guidance, and support.

Locally owned and operated, The Parke Company provides community-centered, high quality, and affordable tree and landscaping services to municipalities, businesses, and private residences in the greater Nashville area. Our certified team of Nashville local arborists and landscapers has a reputation for being clean, consistent, and professional and for being leaders in their industries. We at The Parke Company stand behind our work and pride ourselves on our ability to respond quickly, provide efficient and cost-effective services, and meet your needs every step of the way. Please feel free to give us a call (615-350-6033) or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you.

Emergency Tree Service in Nashville: How We Will Help You Handle a Bad Situation

March 7, 2024July 27, 2018 by The Parke Company

U.S. News & World Report ranked Nashville, Tennessee as the 11th best place to live in the United States. Having deep roots in Nashville and the surrounding area, The Parke Company fully understands and supports this finding (in fact, we think that we could give the number one place, Austin, Texas, a run for its money). However, along with the historic music scene, extensive culture, winning sports teams, booming job market, and the country’s best barbecue, life in Nashville can also mean extreme weather. Hail, snow, thunderstorms, extreme heat, sustained high winds, and even tornadoes sometimes spring up without warning and have historically dealt serious damage to the area.

These freak storms not only wreak havoc on transportation, agriculture, and your Saturday afternoon family cookout, but they can also cause extensive damage to your property’s landscape and trees. High temperatures can dry out your trees and plants, making them more susceptible to splitting and breakage. The weight of heavy snow can snap trees and limbs and crush plants and shrubs. High winds and tornados can uproot trees, tear off branches, and rip up gardens. Hail can flatten or perforate unprotected leafy plants. Thunderstorms can cause extensive flooding and erosion.

But don’t fret. Much of this can be prevented. See how The Parke Company, and our 30 years of landscape and tree emergency preparation and response services, can help you deal with damages caused by a recent storm or prepare for storms to come.

Tree and Landscaping Services – How The Parke Company Can Help Repair Damages Caused by Severe Weather
As the wind begins to howl, rain and hail pelt your windows and roof. You glance outside at the rapidly darkening clouds. In the instances of illumination caused by lightning strikes, you witness with growing despair the scene of slowly increasing devastation that was your beautifully landscaped lawn, gardens, beds, and trees. The wind has knocked down hanging pots, flipped over lawn furniture, torn up plants, and snapped the old pine tree nearly in half. The torrential rainfall has eroded your sloping beds and is pooling in the low areas of your lawn, slowly undermining the root structure of your prized dogwood trees.

Sound like a nightmare? That’s because it is. However, this nightmare is an unfortunate reality for many people in the Nashville area every year. If you are lucky, you have previously consulted The Parke Company, and together we have developed a strategy to best prepare for and mitigate damages to your property. If not, you could find yourself in the morning, surveying the damages to your landscape and trees, awestruck and unsure of what to do next.

First step: Call the emergency tree and landscape professionals at The Parke Company.

Our landscaping design, building, emergency service team and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborists have years of experience in all aspects of emergency response and will work with you every step of the way. We have the knowledge and know-how to assess your specific damage and develop a recovery plan that best fits your property and budget.

From tree removal and disposal to land and brush clearing, leaf vacuuming to stump grinding, irrigation and tree repair to chipping and mulching, we have the skills and equipment necessary to get your landscape back to normal as fast as possible. Our extensive experience in the Nashville area means we know the weather and the damages it can cause. This also means we know how to best clean up your property and what steps we can take to prevent such damages from happening in future storms.

Unexpected storm damage to your landscape and trees is an unfortunate occurrence that can leave you feeling overwhelmed and helpless. The Parke Company is here to help you through this process as painlessly as possible.

Tree and Landscaping Services – How The Parke Company Can Help You Prepare for Severe Weather
It doesn’t have to be this way. Nashville natives ourselves, we at The Parke Company know that a severe storm can arise out of nowhere and cause extensive and costly damage to your landscape and trees. You most likely have automotive and home insurance to cover damages caused by storms to your vehicles and house. Why not invest in preventative tree services and landscaping services, from The Parke Company, that will reduce or eliminate damages caused by extreme weather?

Our team of landscape professionals and ISA certified arborists has years of experience preparing trees and landscapes for the wide variety of extreme weather that can impact the Nashville area.

No matter your property, through a consultation and individualized preparation plan, we will help you take the necessary steps to best prepare for the upcoming storm season.

First, we will thoroughly inventory your landscape features and trees. Our team will specifically look for ways to make your property more storm-resistant by storm-proofing your trees and plants, mitigating garden hazards, and reducing potential drainage or erosion problems.

We will then develop an individualized, and prioritized, plan for addressing your specific needs. Your plan will include the various tree services (tree pruning, deadwood removal, weight reduction, cabling, or outright tree removal), plant bed alterations, irrigation services (installation, maintenance, and testing), and preparation strategies (such as interior storage spaces for hanging plant and outdoor furniture) that will have the greatest storm-mitigation impact on your property.

Finally, we will work with this prioritized plan and your budget to prepare your property for storms to come. Having seen it all over the past 30 years, we at The Parke Company stand by our assertion that the best way to reduce the negative impact upon your property caused by extreme weather is to be prepared.

The First Step in Storm Damage Mitigation: Call The Parke Company, Nashville’s Premier Landscaping Company, Today
Whether you are faced with an emergency tree removal or want to save yourself money in the long run by taking advantage of our storm preparation services, reach out to our team of local tree and landscaping service professionals today. Together we will develop a comprehensive plan that works within your budget to address your specific needs. With deep roots in Nashville, it is our goal to provide you with the highest-quality service and to be your go-to for all of your landscaping needs. Give us a call or schedule a landscaping service consultation to find out how The Parke Company can help you.

Rooted in Nashville

March 7, 2024June 21, 2018 by The Parke Company

The Parke Company wood chipper in Nashville

The Parke Company is Nashville’s trusted landscaping and tree service. We are locally owned, and here to serve you.

Emergency Tree Services and Why You Need Them

March 7, 2024December 12, 2016 by The Parke Company

Emergency tree care service might not be something you frequently think about, however after the severe weather we’ve received (and the fires our neighbors in East Tennessee have experienced), it’s important to have a plan. We ask all our clients to take a moment and make sure they have everything in place if the time ever comes for an emergency. As the weather starts to turn and winter weather is more of a possibility, take note of the services our arborists offer when trees or branches fall and block roadways, homes and other structures. We offer a variety of tree services and emergency tree care so be sure to keep our number on your speed dial!

So why should you need tree services? Aside from alleviating the stress that might come with a disaster, the importance of an arborist readily available can mean the difference between major or minimal damage to a structure. It can also mean that you are less likely to have to deal with the damage long-term. Having a company you trust for all your other tree care and landscape needs can speed up the process when it comes time to contact us. But just in case you need some additional convincing, here are three solid reasons why you need to have tree services on hand:

What to Know About Our Emergency Tree Services

We get to you faster

Having a tree care company that you can trust means you spend less time worrying about who to call when the emergency happens. With an existing relationship with a reputable and certified company, you can be at ease knowing the job will get done quickly and efficiently. Plus, as an existing customer, you can benefit from other perks of our landscape and tree care services. These services include snow removal or landscape decorating.

We can do preventive care to avoid unnecessary damage

It’s never too late or too early to do preventative care for your trees. Our arborists will come over, check the healthcare of your trees, treat any existing diseases or problems and suggest ways to prevent any other issues in the future. Though an investment on the front end, preventative tree care is a great way to avoid unexpected and expensive costs should a large branch fall down on a car or a tree fall in your driveway.

Provide an efficient solution so you get back to your life

We understand that bad weather can be stressful, especially trying to figure out how to get to work, school or the grocery store. The last thing you need to deal with is how to properly remove a tree from your driveway. Let us handle at least one inconvenience for you while the weather is bad! We can remove the tree so you can get back to your daily life fast and efficiently.

Emergency tree care services is our speciality. With years of experience and certified arborists on staff, we understand the urgency of the situation. We work fast and we get the job done right. We also offer other services including snow removal, tree health care and much more! Interested in learning a bit more? Give us a call today for a consultation!

Trend Alert! Yarn Bombing Trees

March 7, 2024November 8, 2016 by The Parke Company

parke-company-tree-service-of-nashville-dont-delay-get-your-tree-care-services-booked-for-fall Creativity is Nashville’s bread and butter. From music to knitting, Middle Tennessee is thriving with all kinds of wonderful and creative ways to make art. So what’s new in the world of art? Yarn bombing has taken the country by storm over the last few years, and it is no wonder it’s so popular. This cool trend takes street art to a whole other level, and often uses trees to showcase what people have made. Still not sure what it’s all about? Here’s a little more information:

What to Know About Yarn Bombing Trees

What Is Yarn Bombing?

Yarn bombing is a type of street art that utilizes colorful pieces of knitted yarn instead of chalk or spray paint. Think of it as graffiti, but with yarn! Yarn bombing can be found all over the place, including poles, statues, bridges and, most commonly, trees. A trees acts as an eye-catching subject and looks like it’s wearing a sweater too. Who doesn’t love that? Many organizations have used trees for yarn bombing as a fundraising or awareness event.

Why Is Yarn Bombing So Popular?

There are numerous reasons why yarn bombing trees is popular. First off, the art project brings so much color and festivity to the area, which elicits a positive response from many. In addition, the art can bring a community together. Many non-profit organizations will sponsor events where people will knit a square of the sweater that will be added to a designated tree. Other organizations will use yarn bombing to raise awareness or market an event.

Is It Safe for Trees?

If you want to add sweaters to your beloved trees over the winter, we recommend you call one of our arborists just to be safe, especially if it needs tree care throughout the colder months. All that to say, organizations often do take precautions to ensure that the trees will not be harmed during the projects. It is advised that people do not use nails, staples or anything else that might damage the trees. Furthermore, the sweaters should be removed before the warmer season sets in.

Are There Areas in Middle Tennessee With Tree Sweaters?

If you travel often, you’ve probably noticed these sweaters on tree trunks (and even all the way up their branches) in towns all over the country. But there are spots right here at home that have taken part in this fun trend. Recently, at Cheekwood, Bliss Yarns added yarn on a Steve Tobin: Southern Roots sculpture. In addition, there are other Nashville yarn artists who take part in this mania. But as it gets colder outside, consider adding a little color to your favorite tree and its branches in your backyard. It is important to note that yarn bombing, like other street art, can be illegal in some areas if done without the owner’s consent. If you want to add a sweater to a tree nearby, be sure to ask permission before doing so.

Know of any other trees that have been yarn bombed in Nashville? We want to know! And if you need any tree care services, our arborists are available to help. Drop us a line today.