How Do I Know If I Need an Emergency Tree Service?

Fallen tree in Nashville in the fall

For many property owners, trees are a desirable feature of their landscape. Whether it is a commercial or residential property, trees can provide shade and aesthetic beauty beyond comparison.

While desirable, trees can sometimes pose a threat to the health and safety of your property if they are old, unhealthy, or damaged by other elements. Aside from obvious incidents like a tree falling, it can be tempting to take care of your trees’ damage on your own in an effort to reduce costs.

In some cases, an experienced property owner may be able to trim or prune a tree successfully, but improper care of trees can lead to even more damage to your property.

Are you deciding between hiring services or taking care of tree issues for yourself? Check out today’s article to learn the answer to the frequently asked question: how do I know if I need emergency tree services?

When You Need Emergency Tree Services

Storm Damage

Elective tree removal is conducted for a number of reasons: it blocks your view, you want more space in your yard, you find the tree unattractive, etc. Emergency tree removal, however, is conducted for much more pressing reasons, the most common of which is storm damage.

For savvy property owners, tree maintenance like tree trimming is a routine landscaping maintenance task.

It is important to remove aging limbs and branches to reduce the likelihood of damage during a heavy storm. Even the most attentive property owner, however, cannot prepare for every storm. Inclement weather including rain, hail, or heavy winds can cause trees to fall over onto your property.

In cases like this, it is critical to hire emergency tree services for tree removal rather than attempting to remedy the situation yourself.

Do-it-yourself methods like towing a tree or cutting it with a saw for carpentry projects can result in serious damage or injury. Without knowledge of how to properly fell trees, you run the risk of a tree falling in an unexpected direction or falling before you were ready. Only professionals should handle the dangerous task of tree removal. Treating a professional project as an amateur job can be lethal.

Disease and Rot

Even if branches or limbs have not yet fallen onto your property, you may still be in an emergency situation.

Diseased and rotting trees are more than just unsightly; they are also dangerous. In the best case scenario, the disease or mold may spread to other areas on your property and cause damage to more plants in your landscape. In the worst case scenario, damaged trees may easily fall, whether it is during a storm or simply due to the weakness of the tree.

It is important to have your trees serviced regularly. Even if you don’t notice disease on your trees, an experienced arborist can quickly examine your tree and determine the best methods to maintain its health for years to come and avoid the disaster that accompanies diseased trees.

Even if your tree looks fine, emergency tree services could be the one thing between you and disaster.

Contact The Parke Company Today!

Safety should always be your first priority, and it is definitely the first priority of the experienced landscaping professionals at The Parke Company. Landscaping services from a landscaping maintenance company like The Parke Company can help you protect and beautify your property.

Whether it is lawn mowing, leaf removal, or more complex projects like hardscape installation, The Parke Company is the right landscaping company for the job. Our experienced professionals are ready to develop a landscaping plan that works for your property and your budget. For residential or commercial landscape maintenance, give us a call (615-350-6033) or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you!

Falling for Fall: Leaf Cleanup and Other To-Dos

Orange and red leaves on a tree in fallOne 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

Fall leaves in a mountain landscapeFootball 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

orange tree leaves in sun

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

Tree with fall leavesLeaves 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!