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Irrigation Systems: Backflow Testing in Nashville, TN

August 26, 2024October 1, 2013 by The Parke Company

valve-testing-nashville-tn Backflow testing is a key step in making sure drinking water is protected from pesticides, feces, and other contaminants. There are two main ways backflow can contaminate drinking water, but they can both be prevented if your irrigation devices are in working order.

The first type of backflow contamination is back-siphonage. If the pressure in Nashville’s main city water line drops suddenly, back-siphoning can cause sprinkler heads, pesticide sprayers, and other components of irrigation systems to send dangerous contaminants back into our potable water supply. A common cause of back-siphonage is heavy use of water in a short time period, such as emergency fire-fighting.

Another cause of backflow contamination is back-pressure. This can occur when someone installs a lawn sprinkler pump or injector system incorrectly. The water used for irrigation creates more pressure than the potable water supply and forces contaminants into it.

Backflow testing ensures that your home’s backflow prevention valves are working properly and that your water pressure is at the level it should be. The state of Tennessee requires annual tests of backflow prevention devices for this reason.

The professionally certified testers at the Parke Company can perform backflow testing that will help you protect the water you drink and use every day and reassure you that it is safe and contaminant-free. We’re here for you. Contact us today at 615-350-6033 to schedule for a certified landscape irrigation professional to visit your home today.

Let the Parke Company Help You During Football Season

March 7, 2024September 29, 2013 by The Parke Company

SONY DSC Football season provokes thoughts of sports mania, tailgating and lots of finger food for people around America, especially Nashville — home of the Tennessee Titans. And it’s not just professional football we’re talking about! Nashville is home to Vanderbilt Commodore fans, Tennessee State University Tigers fans, University of Tennessee Volunteer fans and even Hillsboro High School burro fans. No matter whom you cheer for every season, we understand that it can take up a huge portion of your weekend leaving little time for lawn maintenance or tree services. But that’s OK! That is what the Parke Company is here for. They can take care of your lawn maintenance and tree service needs while you and your family are out enjoying football season. Some of their basic treecare services include:

Tree removal
Stump Grinding
Deadwood Removal
Crown Thinning

Treecare services popular during football season (when the weather begins to cool down and the plants begin their dormancy) include:

Debris Removal
Firewood Services and Delivery
Transplant Services
Lawn Maintenance

Perhaps you don’t follow football as much as others do; however you want to spend more time with your friends and family while the weather is still nice. The less home maintenance you have to worry about and the more time you can spend outside in Music City. Even if you like doing outdoor work, sometimes a dangerous job is not worth the risk.

No matter what category you fall in, the Parke Company has your back. The company understands the importance of family life and the importance of football. After all, many consider it America’s favorite sport. From firewood delivery to tree removal, the Parke Company is certified in a variety of services — so the only thing you need to be certified for the football season is touchdowns. For more information about tree services, call the Parke Company at 615-405-6548.

Why Do the Leaves Change Their Color? A Quick Refresher

March 7, 2024September 22, 2013 by The Parke Company

WarnerPark_LeavesChange_ParkeCompany_Nashville The ladies and gents of Nashville are eagerly ordering their Pumpkin Spice Lattes and wearing boots in anticipation for the fall. But what exactly makes the autumn season so special? Football? Apple-picking? It’s the change in color of the leaves on the trees, of course! But exactly how do they change color and why do they eventually fall from their limbs?

The one-word answer is chlorophyll. The long answer … is a bit more complicated.

If you remember back in your 7th grade science class, chlorophyll is what gives leaves that beautiful green color during the summertime. When fall arrives, the weather cools down and the days become shorter, giving the leaves less access to sun and food. Because there are not enough resources for photosynthesis, the chlorophyll slowly disappears from the leaves leaving the yellow and orange color. If you see trees with bright red or purple leaves on their limbs, that’s mostly from the glucose levels trapped in maples.

Of course, eventually the beautiful foliage will drop to the ground and it will be necessary to clean up for the wintertime. If you don’t have time or are unable to do it yourself, the Parke Company is certified in tree chipper and debris removal so they can take care of all your leaf pick up woes. Other services to be thinking about during this time of year include:

Dead limb or tree removal
Leaf blowing or mulching for additional leaf pick up and tree chipper services
Expert transplant services (Your plants begin to go dormant after the first freeze of the season, which happens as early as fall.)

For more information about the Parke Company and their services, call them today at (615) 405-6548. And as the folks here in Middle Tennessee say, “Happy Fall, Y’all!”

Overseeding and Aeration on Nashville’s Fescue Lawns

March 7, 2024September 16, 2013 by The Parke Company

Overseeding_Aeration_ParkeCompany_Nashville It’s that time of year again for Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area: overseeding and aeration of your lawns. Yearly maintenance is crucial in keeping a fescue lawn looking beautiful during the chilly months, which is why September and even October are key months to get it done. Perhaps the Parke Company had to come in and remove a tree early this summer — now it is time to plant grass over the bald spot. Whatever the reason, the time for this landscape chore is now.

A few things to keep in mind during the process:

Fescue is a cool season grass and needs seeding during the fall for those shady and cool spots.
Spreading seed across the lawn will not get the job done. Additionally, it’s a waste of seed. The product must be integrated into the lawn somehow — this is why aeration is so important.
September and October are crucial months to complete this job. If bad weather hits the aeration project, it could potentially damage the lawn for fall and early spring.
This overseeding and aeration process is for cool season grass such as fescue, not warm season grass like Bermuda grass.

While you are getting your landscape services caught up for the season, be sure to check off any tree services you need to accomplish with the Parke Company. Tree removal, stump grinding, healthcare analysis and even stock up on firewood are all things to think about as well. As the saying goes, “why not kill two birds with one stone?”

Take this time and complete any and all of your landscape services and tree service around your residence. The Parke Company works throughout all of Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Cool Springs, Madison, Franklin and Brentwood. For more information about tree service or questions about lawn aeration, call the Parke Company at (615) 405-6548.

The Nashvillian’s Guide to Firewood

March 7, 2024September 8, 2013 by The Parke Company

Firewood_Nashville_ParkeCompany A few things to stock up on during the fall and winter months: hot chocolate, football and firewood. Of course, you can get firewood at any of your Nashville home improvement stores, but as you finish up your end-of-the-year checklist for your trees, be sure to ask the Parke Company if they have any on hand. They provide wood products like firewood and mulch. But always be cautious of stocking up on firewood, especially close to your home. Though it is attractive to keep the firewood close to the fireplace especially during snowy seasons, there can be some safety hazards in doing so. These include:

Termites — these pesky critters have a bad reputation will infest your home and any trees close to your stockpile. They’ll stop at nothing for a good meal.
Pest — other pests can include beetles, snakes and rats. We don’t know about you, but we don’t like these guys finding their way into our home.
Fire — As the saying goes, we wouldn’t want to add fuel to the fire. If the firewood is close enough the house, it can only become more of a hazard.
Mold/moisture problem — Middle Tennessee has been wet this season! If wet firewood is close enough to the house, moisture and mold can make its way into the home causing some big problems for both the house and your health.

Ways to avoid these issues:

Store firewood above the ground.
Only bring firewood close to the home after it has been dried out. The dry wood is less likely to be infested with bugs or other “unknowns.”
Keep the area clean. Clean the area around where you store the firewood. Any debris such as wood chips or limbs needs to swept and cleaned immediately.

Fireplaces are a great way to come together as a family and save energy during the chilly nights of fall and bitter months of winter. With that said, it’s important to be cautious when storing firewood. Termites aren’t your only problem. Other pests, fire hazards and molds can be issues as well. Not only can the Parke Company provide firewood for the fall and winter season, but they can also remove unwanted trees and turn those trees into firewood on the spot. In addition, they will also provide regular deliveries of firewood right to your footstep, provide specific species such as oak, hickory and poplar. For more information about the Parke Company about their firewood, tree or limb services within the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area, call today at (615) 405-65