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3 Reasons to Only Hire Contractors with an Irrigation License in Nashville, TN

March 7, 2024December 1, 2013 by The Parke Company

When it comes to landscaping, everybody in Nashville wants the best value for the lowest price. However, the costs of hiring a contractor who is not professionally licensed to service your irrigation system seriously outweigh the benefits. Here are the top three reasons why you should only hire contractors who carry a professional irrigation license:

Knowledge: A landscaper who is not professionally licensed runs the risk of violating city codes. A knowledgeable irrigation professional will take great care to avoid tapping into city water lines or otherwise compromising your system.
Professionalism: Qualified contractors must renew their license every year, ensuring that they continue to stay up-to-date on the techniques, laws, and regulations of their industry. Hiring a licensed contractor minimizes the risk that your landscaper’s training is out-of-date.
Legality: The state of Tennessee requires that you hire licensed contractors to check and service your irrigation system, particularly if your system runs water underground. Issues like backflow prevention impact the water quality of the entire community, so a licensed irrigation contractor is helping all of Nashville by maintaining your system!

The professionals at the Parke Company are fully qualified to perform any landscaping and irrigation services you need to help your lawn survive in Nashville. Call us today at 615-350-6033 to schedule a licensed irrigation specialist to visit your home.

Buying (and Planting) Local

March 7, 2024November 25, 2013 by The Parke Company

Hemlock_NativePlants_Parke All through Nashville people aim to buy food products, clothes and other items locally. Many of us are saying goodbye to large corporations, and supporting those small business owners who give our city some character. The same is said for even plants. There are so many benefits to planting native Tennessee species in your landscape rather than planting exotic plants or trees. Nashville is plant 6b zone and is located within the Central Basin, both with characteristics that encourage native plants to flourish. To the Black Walnut Tree to the Sycamore tree, the choices are endless. Here are some advantages to planting native plants on your property:

Disease resistant — Exotic plants that haven’t been exposed to Tennessee’s elements are more likely to catch an unwanted disease. Many local plants don’t have that problem.

Water conservation — Native trees play an integral part in cleaning Nashville’s water and preventing water erosion.

Pollination — Native plants and trees throughout your landscape will only encourage Tennessee’s ecosystem and promote pollination.

Propagation — Just like with pollination, asking your tree service to use native plants in your landscape will eventually spread and flourish.

Maintenance — The Parke Company makes it easy to use native plants. While they also have tree service for exotic plants, they are very knowledgeable on Tennessee’s own plants.

Of course, like all plants, native trees do have potential to have problems and some specific trees are more disease and pest prone than others. Pin Oak, White Ash, Hemlocks and most pines can potentially have problems. But if you have questions or concerns, the Parke Company is readily available to assist you in choosing the best native plants for your landscape.

For more information or tree services such as planting native trees, call your Parke Company representative today at (615) 405-6548.

Trees: From Tolkien to Nashville

March 7, 2024November 19, 2013 by The Parke Company

Ent_Tolkein_Nashville_ParkeCompany Trees are seen as majestic creatures that evoke both comfort and protection. In works of fiction, they might provide words of wisdom or strength. In reality, trees might be a symbol of history or solace. No matter where you look, fact or fiction, trees have an important part of our lives.

In the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, specifically Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, creatures called Ents (or “shepherds of the trees”) protect forests from orcs and other dangerous creatures. Ents take on a tree-like form, resembling those they protect. In The Two Towers, Saruman destroys hundreds of trees the Ents have known for years. Angry and seeking vengeance for those they swore to protect, the Ents take their last march to destroy Isengard (which ends Saruman’s reign of power).

Other works of fiction use trees to evoke wisdom, protection and strength. For example, in Disney’s Pocahontas the main character seeks advice from a tree named Grandmother Willow. In addition, in the Legend of Zelda series, the Great Deku Tree serves as guardian of the earth.

But it’s not just Lord of the Rings, Pocahontas or Legend of Zelda where trees have immense symbolism. Like Ents in Middle Earth, the Parke Company employees have duties to care for trees around Middle Tennessee. Though they don’t take on a tree-like form, the Parke Company is certainly shepherd of the trees and they approach their craft in a holistic manner.

In addition, everyday trees like those in a backyard of Green Hills or a park in Brentwood can symbolize a piece of history — everything from a historical landmark to a couple sharing their first kiss.

So if you spend any time outside or even go watch Tolkien’s new film adaptation, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug this holiday season, don’t forget to look out for any trees and what they might mean. You never know what emotions they are supposed to evoke.

Leaf Removal Services in Nashville

September 25, 2025November 11, 2013 by The Parke Company

LeafPickup_ParkeCompany_Nashville You know it is about that time — time to rake all those leaves swimming in your front and back yards. But if you have a million things going on, including Vanderbilt and Titans football games, Thanksgiving Day plans and other shenanigans, that last thing you want to worry about is taking care of another chore. That’s where the Parke Company comes in. Their team of highly experienced workers is eager and willing to help with your landscape needs. But don’t wait too long to call them if you need help with the leaf pick-up before the holidays.

Their leaf and tree services for the fall months include (but not limited to):

Leaf blow/Leaf removal — this is a very necessary and popular need from customers at the Parke Company. They’ll rake, blow and even remove the leaves for the clean, beautiful landscape you desire.
Mulching — If you wish to recycle your leaves for mulching purposes, the Parke Company can assist you with that as well. Ask your Parke Company employee for additional information.
Tree transplants — This time of year is the best months to transplant your tree if necessary.
Firewood — Stock up on all the essentials before Nashville’s winter comes in full effect. The Parke Company can provide you with a variety of firewood suited to your preference.
Chipper or debris removal — Any other natural debris (including limbs, logs and landscape debris) that needs to be removed, the Parke Company is at your service. If you want something a environmental friendly, they will build a compost site right on your property!

Be sure to call the Parke Company as soon as possible to schedule your appointment so you can have a beautiful landscape for the holidays. For more information and questions on how to schedule your leaf removal appointment, call the Parke Company today at (615) 405-6548.

Q&A About Nashville’s Fall Foliage

September 25, 2025November 4, 2013 by The Parke Company

RedTrail_WarnerPark_Nashville_Parke Lately, the Parke Company has been receiving a handful of questions about how the trees and leaves transition into the fall while out on their tree service. These questions can often be complicated with a lot of answers. But owning up to the Parke Company’s great reputation, they are always here to answer them to the best of their abilities. Here are just a couple burning questions from the customers.

Q: Will the wetter summer make for better fall color?

A: Yes. Though it depends on a lot of factors, a wetter summer means a wetter growing season, which in turn has a lot to do with those vibrant hues we see on leaves in the fall. Other factors that contribute to intense colors for the leaves include abundant sunlight and temperature. Factors that could inhibit the changing of leaves are frosty nights during the fall, drought during the summer or heavy wind that could tear leaves off the branches before they turn.

Q: What causes leave to change during the fall?

A: As the nights get longer during the autumn months, the lack of chlorophyll in the leaves (which keep them green) allows the yellow, orange and red to come through. For additional information on how the leaves change their color, check out an earlier blog from the Parke Company here.

One of the best things about fall is watching the colors change in the trees, but the summer’s weather can have a lot to do with the tree’s outcome. Yes, there are a variety of factors, but overall if you have more precipitation during the summer with a cooler and dryer fall, the change of color in the leaves will be much more dramatic and intense. The vibrant colors of fall are highlighted on trees all over Nashville, especially on the Red Trail in Warner Park, Natchez Trace Parkway, Vanderbilt’s campus and Centennial Park.

For more information, tree service, leaf pickup or to ask additional questions about trees, leaves and everything related, call the Parke Company today at (615) 405-6548.