The Parke Company | The Parke Company

Have a Mosquito Problem in your Nashville Backyard? Try a Bat or Martin House

March 7, 2024June 5, 2013 by The Parke Company

The beautiful summertime in Middle Tennessee can often mean you spend your outdoor activities armed with bug spray. Insects such as mosquitoes can dampen your summer and prevent you from doing more activities. There is always one great natural way to control these outdoor pests: bat and Martin houses.

Yes, we know what you might be thinking. Bats?! Though they might have a bad reputation, these flying mammals are actually quite beneficial for insect control. Both bats and Martins can eat thousands of insects a day, even mosquitoes. According to the Tennessee Bat Working Group, bats can eat approximately 3,000 insects a night. That’s half of their body weight!

Many times, acquiring bat houses and tree removal go hand in hand. The Parke Company receive a lot of inquires after a tree has been removed. “What can we do with this space now?” people ask. If planting a new tree is not an option, consider installing a bat or a Martin house during your landscape makeover. This will not only naturally control insects, but it can also enhance your Nashville wildlife appreciation without having to visit Percy Warner Park.

The Parke Company will not only help you with tree service, but also assist you in finding the right type of house best suited for your area. Depending on the species, your house might require size or environmental specifications. Here are just a few things to think about for each type of house:

Bats:

Nocturnal animals, these creatures eat at night.
The design and construction of the house is very important. The Parke Company will be able to assist you in specific size and shape.
At least 6 hours of daily sunlight exposure is recommended for all bat houses. This is to ensure the bat houses are kept warm.

Martins:

Spends their time eating and doing other acivities during the day
Housing needs to be out in the open (at least 30 feet away from your residence) to avoid other disturbances.
Keep the housing at least 10-20 feet high to protect from predators.

Sometimes after a tree removal, you want to consider different options. The Parke Company will help you brainstorm great alternatives for your landscape — like installing bat or Martin houses. Not only is this a great natural insect repellent but it’s also a great animal-focused activity for you and your family right at home. For more information on types of houses and specific requirements, call the Parke Company today for information on this or other tree services at (615) 405-6548.

Poison Ivy vs. Virginia Creeper: How Can You Tell The Difference?

March 7, 2024May 30, 2013 by The Parke Company

Summertime is vastly approaching. That’s right! Swimming out on Percy Priest Lake, barbecues in your backyard, and even hikes through Percy Warner is here for the next few months. However one essential thing to understand while you’re out in nature is how to spot Poison Ivy and how it compares to a similar-looking plant: the Virginia Creeper.

Like with any wildlife, knowledge is power. The more you know, the more tools you have to arm yourself as you enjoy the great Tennessee outdoors. Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper are easy plants to get mixed up. They’re similar in size, can crawl up trees, have pointy leaves and they both turn red during the fall months. However, rest assure that Virginia Creeper will not give you painful rash Poison Ivy will give you. Here are some characteristics to determine the difference between Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper.

Poison Ivy — “Leaves of Three, Let Them Be.”

The biggest detail of Poison Ivy is that it will always have three leaves or leaflets.
The leaves will be smooth, not serrated.
Poison Ivy will produce “hairy” vines during the winter months as they grow on trees. (These will also contain the oil that will cause a red, itchy rash. This oil, also called urushiol, can be spread through direct contact or through the air. For this reason, be careful of firewood with Poison Ivy still attached as and call a professional for necessary treecare or firewood questions.)
Poison Ivy will grow greenish-white berries.

Virginia Creeper — “Leaves of Five, Let Them Thrive.”

Biggest characteristic is its five leaves or leaflets. Some young plants will have three, but typically, the plant will always have four or five.
The leaves will be serrated.
The plant grows blue berries during the fall — a favorite treat among many birds.
The vines of the Virginia Creeper are small and simple, versus the Poison Ivy’s hairy vines.

Enjoying the Nashville outdoors is a great perk of the summertime, but with it comes necessary research and knowledge. Knowing the difference between Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper is the easiest way to avoid an unfortunate rash later. The Parke Company has experience in removing the poisonous vines if you need assistance. If you think your trees or property have poison ivy and you have questions about proper treecare, call The Parke Company at (615) 405-6548.

Risks of Removing Vines Without a Professional in Middle Tennessee

March 7, 2024May 24, 2013 by The Parke Company

Vines can convey a variety of meanings, especially depending on the setting. For example, ivy crawling up Belle Meade plantation can be both beautiful and majestic. However, vines crawling up your oak tree in your West Nashville home can often be annoying and look invasive. However, before you go crazy with the garden sheers, consult with the Parke Company on removing the vines for you. Removing vines without proper knowledge or background can often damage the tree and put you in harm’s way.

Top three reasons not to remove vines yourself from your trees:

Cambium Cell Layer — It has the word “cell” in the name, so it is obvious how important this layer is. Removing vines yourself could damage the tree’s cambium cell layer causing permanent damage. The cambium produces new bark and wood throughout the year. If damaged when uprooting vines, it could potentially damage the growth of the tree.
Roots Merge — The cellular tissue of the vines can merge with the tree. Cutting the vines would not completely remove the plant, as the root would still be intact. Therefore, the vines would just keep growing back to much of your annoyance.
Safety — If you remove vines/ivy yourself, you can potentially bring pull down dead branches, bird’s nest or even a hornet’s nest. To avoid these unsafe circumstances, the best bet is to call the Parke Company.

Removing the vines from your trees yourself might seem like an easy and “cheap” thing to do; however, it’s not a long-term solution for your tree, nor is it a safe procedure. Make sure you use an expert who understands the type of tree you are working with, how the vine is growing on it and how to remove it safely with no permanent damage to the tree. For more information about vine removal or questions about the Parke Company, call (615) 405-6548.

5 Keys to Quality Landscape Irrigation in Nashville, TN

March 7, 2024May 24, 2013 by The Parke Company

earth-friendly-parke-irrigation-nashville-tennessee

Your property is dynamic and each area has its own specific needs. In order for the area to thrive, it must receive the appropriate levels of water. Irrigation maintenance can be taxing, but with these simple tools and the assistance of an irrigation designer, your property will blossom into the ultimate lush landscape.

1. Adapt: Adjust your watering schedule to accommodate the current weather, season and soil type. In Nashville, soil typically contains combinations of clay, silt and loam, which retain more water than sandy or chalky soils in other areas of the country. It’s important to familiarize yourself with your irrigation controller and change settings according to weather conditions on a regular basis.

2. Customize: Each individual zone in your irrigation system may require different amounts of water. Consider the type of sprinkler needed and the amount of sun exposure in each area for appropriate distribution.

3. Timing is everything: Water your property at the best times of day: when the sun is low or down and winds are calm. You can lose up to 30% of water simply by evaporation if you water in the middle of the day.

4. Use your resources wisely: Be careful not to over-water, which can result in shallow roots, disease, fungus and weed growth. Also, make sure to adjust sprinkler heads and clear any obstructions to prevent excessive water collection on pavement or structures. Each day, as much as half of the water used for landscape irrigation nationwide is wasted due to over-spraying on sidewalks or evaporation, so it’s best to check your work.

5. Seek professional help: Monthly inspections and professional system audits assist you in testing all areas of the property and ensure quality water distribution. Audits and inspections are cost-effective and earth-friendly.

If you are in need of professional services, contact the Parke Company at 615.350.6033 for any landscape and irrigation concerns. These professional irrigation contractors will assist you in building or revitalizing your irrigation system. Their experience with Nashville soil will benefit your property for years to come.

Service: Installing a New Irrigation System

March 7, 2024May 24, 2013 by The Parke Company

planning-irrigation-nashville-tennessee

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.