Planning Ahead: Scheduling Tree Services in Nashville With The Parke Company

Things are heating up here at the Parke Company! While the sun is hitting hard outside, Parke Company employees are doing the same for customers all over Nashville. Though the jobs may stack up, it doesn’t change the Parke Company’s goal: making sure the trees around Middle Tennessee are happy and healthy. Stay one-step ahead and schedule with the Parke Company now for all of your tree service needs including tree removal and plant health care need services.

Benefits of scheduling early:

  • Ensuring the job is getting done in your time frame. Do you remember the saying, “the early bird catches the worm?” This is the best way to avoid running into scheduling constraints for both parties, and the job gets done when you want it to.
  • Scheduling early is a chance to prepare. If the Parke Company needs extra assistance with removing a tree, or if the weather becomes an issue, or if you know of any setbacks, it’s good to know that earlier rather than later. Uncontrollable surprises on a tight schedule can not only be inconvenient but also a setback.
  • Give yourself ample time to enjoy your trees and property before the winter chill takes over. The earlier you schedule the services, the earlier the job will get done. This will ensure you’ll be able to enjoy more time outside on your property, rather than inside waiting for the work to get done.

The Parke Company understands that this time of year can get hectic — school is starting and it is the end of summer. However, scheduling your tree service right now can only benefit in the long run rather than waiting until things become an emergency. The Parke Company’s services range from everything to plant health care to stump grinding. In addition, the Parke Company works for residential and commercial areas in Nashville and Middle Tennessee including Franklin, Belle Meade, Berry Hill and Bellevue. To schedule an appointment with the Parke Company, call (615) 405-6548 today.

The Importance of Maintaining your Landscape Irrigation System in Middle Tennessee

parke-irrigation-landscape-water-nashville-tnRegularly performed preventative maintenance is the single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your landscape irrigation sprinkler system. In Nashville, Tenn., these pieces of equipment are exposed to snow, sleet, hail, rain, heat, not to mention the home pets and wildlife that find something new to play with. By ensuring that your irrigation investment is properly maintained, you will be setting yourself up for success in the long run. Here’s how:

  1. Saves Money: Newly installed irrigation systems last anywhere from 10-30 years. That’s a pretty wide margin, and the aim should be to make your investment last as long as possible. Scheduling regular maintenance work on your irrigation system will ensure that it can hold on for longer. Though this involves expenses on a more regular basis, it increase your chance of holding out on the larger purchase for a longer period of time.
  2. Saves Time: As with the money, devoting a few hours a month to maintaining your irrigation system will save you the major chunk of time that gets zapped when a large emergency arises from little or no preventative maintenance.
  3. Saves Headaches: Unplanned expenses and replacements always bring about unwanted stress. Avoid the headache of dealing with unplanned for problems by consistently checking the status of your irrigation equipment. Irrigation companies typically provide general maintenance check-ups on equipment they’ve installed, so use that resource.

Consider employing a certified irrigation contractor to perform these general preventative maintenance tasks. Located in Nashville, Tenn., The Parke Company is available for questions about the costs and procedures associated with the upkeep of your irrigation system. Contact us today at (615)-207-8390.

Identifying Trees for Landscaping — Tennessee State Parks and The Parke Company

As venture into the last leg of summer, activities flourish and the heat of summer continues to sizzle. If you find yourself looking for things do outdoors, consider spending it out on the trails of some of Middle Tennessee’s beautiful state parks. Not only is Tennessee’s wildlife the most prosperous during this time of year, but it’s a great opportunity to get the entire family together and spend some time outdoors.

One of the great things about the state of Tennessee is the ample state parks and hiking trails available to its citizens. With most trails, a collection of information and history of the grounds is available to visitors upon request. And as one might assume, at the Parke Company, we like learning about species, history and life of the trees within the trails. Here are a few state parks that dedicate trails exclusively for tree species:

Edwin Warner State Park (Nashville, Tennessee) — The highly-rated park has their tree specimen trail right along the “Old Roadway” in Edwin Warner and is labeled for hikers to read as they walk. For a map of the park, click here.

Percy Warner State Park (Nashville, Tennessee) — This tree specimen trail is nestled through a one-way vehicular road and a mossy ridge trail, that is both easy and moderately challenging, so you can decide on the level of adventure. For a map of the park, click here.

Long Hunter State Park (Hermitage, Tennessee) — The Couchville Lake Arboretum is right on the state park’s property and they have a self-guided tour!  With over 40 identified species, this hiking trail is great for a day out with the family. For the self-guided trail, click here.

Other state parks in Middle Tennessee include (but not limited to):

  • Radnor Lake in Nashville, TN
  • Long Hunter in Hermitage, TN
  • Cumberland Mtn. in Crossville, TN
  • Cedars of Lebanon in Lebanon, TN
  • Harpeth River in Kingston Springs, TN

If you have a tree that you’re unsure of the species, take a photo of the tree you want identified and give the Parke Company a call. They will be happy to assist you in identifying the tree and how to properly care for it. For more information, please call (615) 405-6548.

Ticks and Mosquitos in Nashville: How Can Parke Company Help?

It’s the middle of the summer and outdoor activities are thriving, from backyard barbeques in Franklin to weekend camping trips in Percy Warner Park. But ticks and mosquitos are prominent little pests in Middle Tennessee and can range from a small, itchy bump to a serious illness. Though Lyme disease is not as prevalent in Tennessee as West Nile Virus, it’s important to take special precautions in order to understand the risks and how you can protect you and your family.

A few facts about ticks and Lyme disease

  • Over 25,000 people develop Lyme disease every year.
  • Blacklegged ticks live in moist and humid areas.
  • Symptoms of Lyme disease include rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes and more.

A few facts about mosquitos and West Nile Virus

  • According to the Metro Public Health Department and the Tennessean, the West Nile Virus has been confirmed in mosquitos in Bellevue, North Nashville, East Nashville and Goodlettsville.
  • Seventy to eighty percent of people who get infected with the virus do not develop symptoms.
  • There are over 170 species of mosquitos.

How can you protect you and your family?

  • Perform checkups to make sure there are no ticks or untreated bites on the body. (Be sure to check your pet too!)
  • Use repellent with 20 percent or more DEET before spending time outdoors.
  • Know when and where the insects thrive, how to avoid them and stay alert for signs of illness.

How can the Parke Company help?

  • Fallen trees are great opportunities for possible wet areas to host mosquitos. The Parke Company will remove any fallen tree from your property to avoid nests that could potentially carry disease.
  • Limbs and brush in backyards are eyesores, but they also are hotbeds for ticks, that might be carrying Lyme disease. Clean up your yard and have the Parke Company come remove the excess limbs and deadwood from your property.
  • Ticks thrive in wooded and shrubby areas. If your yard needs a facelift, contact the Parke Company for landscape consultations to trim up your property and create “tick-safe zones.”

For more information about the Parke Company and their services for the Nashville, Tennessee area, call (615) 405-6548.

Nashville’s Summer Weather Fluctuation: How to Tell When Your Trees Have Had Enough Summer Fun

Fourth of July has come and gone this year. And for many Nashvillians who stayed in town, we all know it was a tad wetter and cooler than last year’s Independence Day. So instead of boating on Percy Priest Lake or enjoying a picnic in Centennial Park, most people enjoyed their holiday inside. And while the Parke Company is sure you all made the best of the rainy situation, it just goes to show that Mother Nature can be a fickle woman, and it’s important to keep your trees healthy and ready for anything.

Last year, Nashville was at a daily record high of 103 degrees Fahrenheit with rain nowhere in sight, and there is no telling what it is in store for our Fourth of July festivities next year. That’s why it’s important to be ready for the fluctuation of the heat and precipitation of weather and keep an eye out on your trees for any signs of distress throughout the summer.

Some things to keep an eye out for:

  • Loss limbs or deadwood
  • Insect infestations or nests
  • Invasive plant species
  • Dehydration during draughts
  • Flooding and excessive water
  • Signs of disease or other problems

The summer is only half way over, so your trees still have some time to spend out in the heat. If you see signs of disease or distress, call the Parke Company for a consultation. Not only can they assist you with your piles of deadwood from your summer storms, firewood, stump grinding and tree removal services, but they can also perform extensive health analyses of your trees if anything calls for concern during these unpredictable months. For more information or questions in Middle Tennessee call the Parke Company, please call (615) 405-6548.