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Tennessee Heat: Hot Weather and Tree Care

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

If you’ve spent any time in Tennessee, you know that the summer heat can get the best of us — humidity especially. And though it’s only May, hotter temperatures are settling in for a long season. Your trees and your landscape thrive in hot and sunny temperatures, but humidity and drought can often be detrimental to the overall health of your plants. So what do you do? Especially if water conservation is an issue, tree care will need to be considered.

Here are a couple things to think about when dealing with your trees:

Picking the Right Species

Heat waves are commonplace in Tennessee during the summer. If you’re looking to plant a new tree on your property, consider trees that require less water. This will not only keep the tree healthy all summer long, but it’s less stress on you! Because irrigation cannot be readily available during a drought, these types of trees also conserve water: a win-win. In addition, placement of trees can be important to keep a tree prosperous throughout a hot summer. With an arborist’s help, you can plant in the right conditions and feel confident your tree will be taken care of for years to come.

Assessing Existing Trees

Existing trees can be a bit trickier. Without considering the summer heat, a wide variety of trees can be planted in the Middle Tennessee area that may not thrive. This can be problematic for trees that require much more water during seasons where water conservation is so crucial. If water is not an issue, Parke can add a soaker hose for a slow trickle of constant water. In addition, soil injections can be done to enhance the health of the tree. Regular observation of your trees is important. The Parke Company can amend soil to help hold water for longer periods of time when lack of water is an issue. If you see leaves discolor or limbs die, call an arborist at the Parke Company for an assessment.

Regular irrigation and tree care is important to keeping your trees and landscape beautiful. But the Parke Company understands that weather can get in the way. Whether it’s summer storms and lightning (hyperlink), drought or extreme heat, the Parke Company can help you. They will assess your existing trees or assist in finding the perfect tree to withstand Tennessee’s infamous weather. Want more information and live within the Middle Tennessee area including The Gulch or Germantown? Call the Parke Company today for additional information or to speak with an arborist.

Have You Ordered Your Live Christmas Tree Yet? Contact Parke!

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

Whoever said you had to stick to the rule of waiting to decorate for the holidays until after Thanksgiving? Why not get started on the decorations now? After all, you don’t just have to limit yourself to Christmas decorations. Why not put up decorations for Thanksgiving? Autumn decorations pair beautifully with Nashville trees and landscape during this beautiful season. Decorations are a great way to get your family in the holiday spirit, and that even applies to decorations outside your home or business.

The Parke Company doesn’t just provide comprehensive tree care; our team can help you put together beautiful and festive decorations over the next couple of months in a variety of ways:

A live Christmas tree is one Parke’s most exciting services. Though it’s always fun to visit Green Hills Mall or Warner Park’s Red Trail to see living Christmas trees, it’s never too early to call the Parke Company to discuss your own living Douglas fir or Norway Spruce tree! Call the Parke Company and they’ll set up your live tree at your house, either inside or outside, to enjoy during the Christmas season. Once the holidays are over, Parke can come back out and plant the living tree in your lawn that will permanently become part of your landscape.

While your tree grows in your landscape for decades to come, it will provide much more than a Christmas memory for you and your family. Though it takes a bit of planning, it’s a great way for your family, especially children, to learn the importance of nature. Don’t need a tree but want to give one as a gift? The Parke Company can do that too! Just call them for more information.

There are other great ways to decorate your landscape with leaves and other holiday decor: your flowerbeds and mailboxes. Your mailbox is an ideal way to show some festive cheer before guests even enter the driveway. Whether you envision autumn leaves or Christmas holly, the Parke Company can make it happen with an array of artistic displays.

Want to add something more to your landscape aside from your mailbox? The Parke Company will work with you to create the perfect display for your porch. Your display can be simple or elaborate. Get in the holiday spirit both inside and outside of your home. They will even take care of any special planting needs for the holidays so your flower bed and landscape.

The team at Parke understands that you have a busy schedule, but don’t forget to call and discuss living Christmas trees and holiday decorating before it’s too late! And while you’re at it, you can talk about plans for your landscape, flower bed and tree care, too. Feel free to call them today for a free consultation or decoration ideas for the upcoming season.

Trees and Hackberry Wooly Aphids: 101

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

Just because fall is here doesn’t mean it’s the end of bug season. Just like with other plants, trees are highly susceptible to invasive species. All kinds of pests can harm the trees and the things beneath them, not to mention annoy you, even in the fall. One of the more common pests in Nashville is the Hackberry wooly aphid: a small and furry bug that is about 1/10 inch long. Not only can these insects cause a lot of problems for trees but they also can cause issues with the people by creating falling hazards and damage to property. Here are just a few things to know about wooly aphids and how you can spot them if your trees and branches are infested.

These bugs infest Chinese Hackberry trees and can be found all over the U.S. and most of Asia. Blue or gray-toned, the bug also has black wings and secretes a wax or honeydew on the plants and other objects beneath them. The problem isn’t the bug itself, but the amount of honeydew it releases. You might walk outside and notice your car looks a little more “waxy.” Well, that’s not necessarily sap from a tree, but from the substance the bugs release. From cars to decks, the honeydew can create a big slippery mess, resulting in hazardous conditions. In addition, the dew can form into black mold that is hard to clean and damage patios, decks and other outdoor property.

If your tree is infested, you will notice the furry aphids on the branches and leaves of your trees, or you will see waxy film or mold underneath, which can be hard to clean up or get rid of. Because of this, it’s best to call in a tree care professional. The Parke Company is familiar with the woolly aphids and their arborists can recommend the best way to remove the insects from your trees.

Hackberry woolly aphids can be a serious problem if they’re not addressed. Plus, the moldy film the bugs secrete is an eye sore! The Parke Company arborists will recommend tree care to avoid future problems down the road. Whether you want to address fall/slip prevention or you want to avoid ugly mold on your property, inspect your Hackberry trees and their branches for any signs of these pesky bugs. If you do notice an infestation, call the Parke Company’s arborists team to discuss the next steps in removal. For more information about tree care and services within the Middle Tennessee area, call them today!

Parke Company and Cheekwood Unite with Steve Tobin: Southern Roots Exhibit

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

It may still be cold outside, but the warmer months are rapidly approaching, and that means extra time outside admiring trees and the nature all over Nashville. And one of the best places to visit during the spring is Cheekwood. Rooted in tradition, nature and art, this botanical garden is a Nashville treasure that adults and children can both enjoy. Because of this, it’s no wonder the Parke Company enjoys working with Cheekwood so much. Sponsoring another one of Cheekwood’s exhibits, the Parke Company is excited to see what the new art brings to Nashvillians.

Nature and art colliding, this year’s exhibit features structures inspired by the natural form of trees. Steve Tobin: Southern Roots “will give visitors the opportunity to experience the relationship between art and nature through a new lens,” according to marketing material provided by Cheekwood. The exhibit will also will include one of Tobin’s sculptures in downtown Nashville’s Riverview Gardens at Riverfront Park.

Every year Cheekwood showcases works done by artists that draw inspiration from nature. Last year, Parke also sponsored a similar event with Cheekwood called A Celebration of Trees by Charles Brindley. While last year’s work focused on landscape pieces, this year’s art will be more abstract.

The event will align with National Arbor Day and Nashville Arbor Day, which kicks off the spring. The exhibit itself, however, will begin on February 20th and run through the summer. The outdoor sculptures will be available for viewing until September 4th and will cover different areas in the West Gardens at Cheekwood.

In addition to the much-anticipated outdoor sculpture exhibit, Cheekwood will also feature Tobin’s work inside the museum through May 24th. This series will showcase a never-before-seen gallery using wood from fallen trees in Costa Rica. It’s an arborist’s dream come true!

Steve Tobin is a well known sculpture artist who uses glass, bronze, steel and clay as his primary materials. To kick off the exhibit, the artist himself will host a lecture at Cheekwood to discuss his exhibit as well as nature as his artistic influence. The lecture begins at 2:00 p.m. on February 20th and is free for members or with admission.

The spring time is a great time to come visit Cheekwood and view Tobin’s exciting exhibit. If you’ve never been to the botanical garden, what better time to come out and discover what all the hype is about. Not only can you view the art from this acclaimed artist, but enjoy the nature as well. Find some inspiration in the landscape or trees all throughout the property before tree care and maintenance on your landscape begins. Cheekwood is truly an arborist or nature-lover’s happy place. Whether you pull elements from the art or the gardens themselves, the Parke Company’s arborist and landscape teams can assist you in making your landscape dreams come true!

Severe Storms and How Parke Can Help

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

Nashville summer storms are nothing new. So you probably already know that one minute it can be sunny and the next it is stormy with flash floods and fallen branches. This is a common occurrence in Middle Tennessee, so it is important to be cautious and prepared if disaster strikes your own landscape. If the worst occurs and a tree or a large branch falls and causes damage or obstruct a driveway or road, stay level-headed and have an action plan.

Keep these things in mind during those volatile summer thunderstorms:

Remain calm
It is easier said than done, we know! But staying calm will keep things running smoothly from the moment the tree falls until the damage has been fixed and things are back to normal. Remember that we are here to help! Our team of experienced arborists knows how to quickly and efficiently resolve the problem.

Assess the damage
Check to see what damage has been done. Ultimately, assess the situation and the damage to ensure everyone’s safety. Your family’s safety is our number one priority. If there is structural damage to your home, call for help immediately. If the trees are obstructing a roadway, check to see if any alternate routes are available. If power lines are down, call the Nashville Electric Service to report an outage. Insurance companies will need to be called if there is property damage, so make sure you have the correct number handy.

Call the Emergency Team Service
Our tree service can take care of multiple emergency needs such as removing trees and large branches from roadways and other structures. Licensed and insured, our team of emergency experts will remove the fallen tree from your landscape or roadway so your life can get back to normal quickly.

Schedule follow-ups for other trees
One of the biggest recommendations we make to our clients is to schedule regular tree service check-ups. While some emergency situations are out of our hands, a lot of fallen trees can be avoided if an arborist had previously come out to check on the trees. An arborist would be able to alert Nashvillians if trees are at risk of falling due to decay, disease or other issues.

Nashville weather is fickle, which is why it is important to stay prepared! When in doubt, contact our emergency team and they can assist you with any issues you might come across. Damage from storms can cause stressful situations, but rest assured the Parke Company has you and your property covered. Contact our emergency tree service for more information or to discuss your needs for tree care within the Middle Tennessee area.

Parke also offers a wide variety of landscape services including irrigation, maintenance, design and non-emergency tree care services. They can assist you in summer storm clean-up and irrigation repair, if needed. Fallen branches and leaves from a storm can be an overwhelming chore. Do not go at it alone. Call us today for more information. Happy summer!