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Falling for Fall: Leaf Cleanup and Other To-Dos

September 30, 2026June 30, 2021 by The Parke Company

One of the best parts about fall (except for the Vanderbilt and Titan football games) is the changing colors of leaves all around Nashville. The foliage is everywhere — from backyards to Sylvan Park. And it’s one of the true signifiers that we’re delving right into fall. However, those beautiful, orange trees are short lived. Before you know it, the leaves begin to fall and we are all left with a big mess to clean up. That’s where the Parke Company comes in. Unless you’re a 10 year-old jumping in the gathered pile of leaves, it’s safe to say this is a chore best left to the professionals. The Parke Company can not only take care of your trees during the spring and summer, but make sure they’re ready for dormancy during the fall and winter.

Here are a few other things that need to get done before winter sets in as well as leaf cleanup:

Mulching — Mulching is an important part of any landscape, and it’s a smart idea to use your fallen leaves as the mulching material. Not only is this a great method for recycling, it can be a huge cost-saver.

Firewood — With cold months come cold nights. What better way to warm up than with a nice fire? The Parke Company offers firewood of several varieties for customers interested. While the Parke Company is over raking leaves, stock up on your firewood and you’ll be set through the winter.

Final tree check-ups — Though check-ups need to be done while the leaves are still on the trees, it might not be too late to get an assessment. Call the Parke Company if you have an ill tree to see what’s going on before dormancy takes effect.

Debris Removal — Just like fallen leaves, your property might be littered with debris from old trees or late summer storms. The Parke Company can take care of that, just like they can take care of the leaves.

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, there is always something that needs to get done. If we want to keep Nashville beautiful, it’s important to clean up and take care of any odds and ends that might need to be completed. Even if you just need some firewood, the Parke Company is always making sure your experience is easy and efficient. For more information or to contact the Parke Company about any of the above services in the Middle Tennessee area, contact them today!

It’s Finally Fall! Why Leaves Change Their Colors

September 30, 2026June 30, 2021 by The Parke Company

Football season is in full force here in Middle Tennessee. Tennessee Titans, Vanderbilt and MTSU are all ready to play ball. And with the hysteria comes cooler nights and shorter days. That’s right folks, fall is settling in, which means Mother Nature’s tree decor is slowly changing colors. The changing colors of the trees is a beautiful backdrop to all of autumn’s activities. But exactly how do they change color and why do they eventually fall from their limbs? The answer is in the chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is what gives leaves that rich 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, turning the leaves yellow and orange, then finally brown. Sometimes, the leaves of trees turn bright red or purple. This is due to trapped glucose levels and is mostly found in maple trees.

But as you know, the leaves eventually fall from their limbs leaving a mess all around your landscape. Though it can be fun for your family to play in, it eventually needs to be cleaned up. But why worry about cleanup it if you don’t have to? The Parke Company’s landscape team can assist you in leaf cleanup to protect your landscape from damage. In addition, the fallen leaves can become ideal composting material for your future landscape projects.

In addition to leaf clean-up, take care of other tree and lawn care tasks in one swoop this season. Other arborist or landscape services to be thinking about include:

Dead limb or tree removal — get rid of unwanted or dangerous branches and dead trees for a safe winter.
Leaf blowing or mulching for additional leaf pick up and tree chipper services — a much-needed service for landscapes with a lot of trees. After the clean-up is done, recycle the trash and use it for your future mulching needs.
Expert transplant services — this is the perfect time of year to begin scheduling transplant services for your trees. Give the Parke Company a call before it’s too late.

Autumn is a great season for the changing leaves here in Middle Tennessee. Enjoy the beauty, but don’t get bogged down in all the yard work. For more information about the Parke Company and their services, call an arborist today at (615) 405-6548.

Nashville’s Top 3 Favorite Fall Landscapes

September 30, 2026June 30, 2021 by The Parke Company

Autumn is such a popular season here in Nashville. And for good reason! The humidity has practically disappeared and the leaves are slowly beginning to change colors. This season is a perfect opportunity to spend time outside visiting areas throughout Nashville. Though apple picking and corn mazes are great, there is something special about walking through Nashville’s urban parks, gardens and greenways to enjoy the landscape.

The Parke Company works hard to make sure the outdoor landscapes in Nashville and the surrounding Middle Tennessee area look beautiful, and the following areas are no exception. Visit as many as you can to enjoy the beauty around us. Here are just a handful of options to consider:

The Top Nashville Fall Landscapes

1. Riverfront Park

It’s football season, people! As you’re headed to Nissan Stadium for a Titans game, check out Riverfront Park and the greenway. It’s a great way to tailgate and check out Nashville’s landscape while admiring the changing seasons.

2. Centennial Park

Centennial Park is probably one of Nashville’s most famous areas. With the Parthenon and weekly activities, it’s a popular area to visit whether you’re a visitor or a native. Take a walk through the park or sit on the lawn of the Parthenon and enjoy the sunshine. Whatever your activity of choice, you can take in all the beauty of fall in just one visit.

3. Cheekwood

Come check out Cheekwood’s annual harvest event. The event begins September 19 and runs through November 1. The Mum Explosion, the Scarecrow exhibit and pumpkin carvings are just a few things you’ll be able to enjoy during your visit. Cheekwood’s landscape and trees are nothing short of amazing, so it’s definitely something you don’t want to miss as the color of the leaves change.

Autumn includes the last months of beautiful weather before the dreary, freezing days come in, so be sure to take advantage of it! Spend some time in Nashville’s most beloved parks and gardens in between Vanderbilt and Titan football games and Halloween parties. We promise you, Nashville’s landscapes and greenways won’t disappoint!

Want to enjoy the trees but don’t want to clean up after them? The Parke Company can take care of that for you! Call them today for more information on how schedule tree or landscape services for both commercial and residential properties.

Fall’s Changing Colors and Cleaning the Gutters

September 30, 2026June 30, 2021 by The Parke Company

Leaves changing color is easily one of the most beautiful aspects of fall. It’s a natural decor change in your backyard. How neat is that? But how exactly do the leaves change their colors and how does it affect your to-list in the fall? If you’re spending any time outside in Nashville right now, you’ve noticed the change has already happened. With cooler nights and shorter daylight hours, the foliage on branches is slowly starting to turn orange, red and even purple.

The keyword for the change in color is chlorophyll. If you remember back in your 7th grade science class, chlorophyll is powered by sunlight and gives leaves that beautiful green color during the summertime. When fall arrives, the chlorophyll slowly starts to disappear from the leaves. The weather cools down and the days become shorter, which in turn prevents adequate 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.

Do you see trees with branches full of color? It’s because glucose levels are trapped in leaves after the photosynthesis stops. The glucose itself is what turns the leaves bright red or orange, and it’s mostly seen in maple trees. If you check out areas around Nashville such as Cheekwood, Centennial Park and Belle Meade Plantation, you will be able to spot some of these beautiful bright leaves in all shades of this color pallette. It’s a beautiful reminder of why fall brings such joy to Nashvillians and people all over Middle Tennessee.

But don’t forget that the beautiful foliage will eventually fall from the trees, and one of the most popular landing zones? Your gutters. Your landscape and trees will come across a lot of fallen leaves so don’t forget to check the gutters, flower beds and other hidden crevices areas in your landscape. Though cleaning gutters isn’t a service offered by the Parke Company, cleaning out those gutters is a task that cannot be forgotten.

If you need other services such as tree care, compost, fall decorations or other tree and landscape services, contact the Parke Company today. (For a full list, click here.) Enjoy the fall weather since it’s only here for a short time longer, but be sure to remember your gutters!

How to Avoid Dangerous Situations with Proper Tree Care

September 30, 2026June 30, 2021 by The Parke Company

If you have watched the news in the last several weeks and you live in the Nashville area, you’ve probably heard about the tree falling on Vanderbilt’s campus. The tree fell unexpectedly on a group of prospective students and their families. Fortunately, all ten people injured will be okay, but the fallen tree should be a lesson to all of us. Tree care is important not just for the sake of the tree but for the people who enjoy them.

Sources stated the large hackberry tree on Vanderbilt’s campus was water-soaked, which caused the fall. Heavy waterfall, snow and ice are major weather concerns during this time of the year. If you haven’t already this season, be sure to contact the Parke Company to come check out the well-being of your trees.

Here are some services to consider before the harsh winter season gets the best of your yard:

Tree Landscaping Services

Crown thinning

This type of tree service is great for a variety of reasons. Not only does crown thinning involve removing limbs to reduce weight in highly stressed areas, but it also improves air and sunlight throughout the tree. Removing heavy limbs or branches in stressed areas of the tree is a great way to avoid falling limbs during storms or other natural disasters. In addition, it keeps the trees healthy and strong for many years to come.

Weight reduction

Weight reduction services involve the removal of large limbs on lower areas of the tree to reduce overall weight. This is done to avoid limbs (or the whole tree) from falling during strong winds, ice, or for no reason at all.

Deadwood

This tree care service is commonly completed to remove dead, dying and diseased branches or limbs from a tree. Although this is mainly done for the health of the tree (so disease or other factors won’t spread to other areas), and it’s also done to improve the aesthetic of the tree. Similar to the other tree services listed above, if these dying or diseased branches do not get removed in a timely matter, they can fall causing damage to property, people or the tree itself.

Taking care of your trees on your property is vital in preventing damage to other areas of your home or business and the people who live or visit there. In addition, maintaining proper tree care enhances the lifespan of the tree. It’s important to contact the Parke Company to assess your trees and its branches or limbs. Tree services can help you avoid any possible disasters from occurring.

Obviously, some accidents (like the tree on Vanderbilt’s campus) just happen without any warning. If you find yourself in need of emergency tree care services, contact Parke today. Tree care experts will assist in a variety of emergency tree situations both efficiently and safely. For more information about routine tree care or emergency tree services, contact the Parke Company today!