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Lightning and Trees: Three Ways Parke Can Help

September 30, 2026May 27, 2021 by The Parke Company

Just because it’s April doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be concerned with severe summer storms yet. As a matter of fact, we’ve already had a few episodes of threatening weather, including tornados and flash floods. But one of the biggest threats during this kind of weather is lightning. Trees are especially susceptible to lightning, which is why it’s important to regularly monitor your trees and call for any necessary tree care and damage repair.

Trees isolated on hills, near water, and in vast lawns or fields are even more susceptible to strikes. So what can you do when a storm comes through Nashville and wreaks havoc on your trees? Trees are resilient but preventative measures can always be taken, especially if the tree is a historical landmark. If the tree is struck and it needs to be assessed, there are a couple things the Parke Company can assist you with.

How to Help with Trees Struck by Lightning

Protective devices

Because trees are susceptible to lightning, it’s important to consider protection for older and highly-valued trees, like the Battle of Nashville tree. Installing these protective devices can decrease the likelihood of damage from lightning. This is especially important if trees are near your home or business where severe damage could occur. The lightning devices are complex systems and should not be installed without the help of a certified arborist.

Emergency tree care

As with all weather, lightning is unpredictable. If lightning hits a tree and the tree falls as a result, damage is a real possibility. If the tree falls over a roadway, on your property or on a power line, the Parke Company’s emergency team should be called immediately. The arborist will be able to address the problem quickly and remove the tree safely and efficiently. Just remember, the Parke Company’s existing clients are addressed first. If you’ve never used Parke’s tree or landscape services, call today to get your name in the books for tree care or landscape. That way, if something disastrous happens on your watch, Parke’s arborists have you covered fast.

Repair damage

Depending on the severity, lightning strikes can completely destroy your tree. However, there are times when trees get struck and you won’t be able to tell right away. That’s why it’s important to call a certified arborist who will be able to assist you with proper tree care, as well as guide you in a treatment plan for the affected tree. Signs of damage to the tree are cracks down the trunk, loss of leaves, sunken dead spots around the trunk or branches and death (immediate or prolonged). If you see any of these signs after a storm, contact Parke to complete a full tree care work-up.

You getting struck by lightning is a rare occurrence, but unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the trees on your landscape. Whether it’s effective preparedness, emergency service or damage repair, the arborists at the Parke Company are readily available to discuss your tree care options. Need landscape or lawn services? The Parke Company is available for that too! Call today to get your name in the books.

Why Choose Shredded Pine Mulch?

September 30, 2026May 17, 2021 by The Parke Company

Even for the experienced green thumb, it can take a lot to get your garden looking the way you desire. Between choosing soil, fertilizer, and irrigation methods, the options may seem endless for your landscape.

Mulch is one of the most commonly used materials for improving and protecting your landscape, but with all of the different options, which type of mulch should you choose?

Pine mulch is a perfect option for many property owners, but is it right for you? Today on the blog, we explore the FAQ: why choose shredded pine mulch? Here is what you need to know before making this important gardening decision.

The Benefits of Shredded Mulch

Aesthetics

While mulch does help to nourish and protect the soil in which your plants will grow, it also adds aesthetic interest to your yard.

A number of different materials can be used in your yard as mulch, including things like shredded newspaper, food scraps, and pieces of cardboard. While all of these materials may be readily available to you, not many people desire the appearance of what looks like piles of trash in their yard.

Some mulches like rubber pellets have a more uniform appearance, but they do not look nearly as natural as a material like shredded pine mulch.

Pine mulch is a design option that can cohesively blend in with your landscape’s design and the environment to avoid mulch that sticks out like a sore thumb like newspaper or table scraps may.

Shredded pine mulch is also available in a wide variety of colors if you are looking to match a landscape design or blend in with a particular area of your property.

Environment Friendliness

Recycling can be beneficial for the environment, but with the limited number of materials that can actually be processed through recycling, in addition to the energy used to recycle materials in a plant, reusing or repurposing is an even better choice for the environment.

Some mulches contain harmful chemicals that are obviously antagonistic to the environment, but even rubber pellet mulch requires more material to be produced than other methods.

Shredded pine mulch is an environmentally friendly method of mulching your yard because it repurposes materials that have already been in circulation rather than producing something new.

Mulch is also environmentally friendly because it is made of all natural materials. While some mulches may contain dyes if you choose a colored option, raw mulch is entirely natural on its own and does not introduce any foreign chemicals to your landscape.

Cost Effectiveness

Some landscape installations like water features and pavers can be incredibly expensive, but shredded pine mulch is a great way to improve the appearance and health of your property without breaking the bank.

Mulch can be purchased by the bag, and you can decide precisely how much or how little you want to disperse over your property. Mulch is very easy to fit to your exact budget since brands and quality vary so widely.

Contact The Parke Company Today!

Choosing shredded pine mulch may be a no-brainer, but most landscaping projects take a lot more expertise than picking out a bag at the lawn and garden center of your local hardware store.

If you are looking to beautify your landscape, make sure you enlist the right kind of landscaping maintenance company for your projects.

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!

How to Use Leaves as Fertilizer

September 30, 2026May 7, 2021 by The Parke Company

For the typical green thumb, it goes without saying that you care a lot about the environment.

Chances are that you do everything within your power to help preserve the beautiful earth you nurture on your property, and you try to sustain the rest of the earth as well.

Conscientious efforts like recycling can have a positive impact, as they often reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and help to lower the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

One thing you may not have realized, however, is that repurposing is even more effective and sustainable than recycling. While recycling can be tricky, as many products are incompatible with the recycling process and greenhouse gases are produced during part of the recycling process, repurposing is a fantastic way to reduce waste and cut demand while meeting the needs of your landscape.

One of the best ways to do this is through using leaves as a fertilizer. Here are the best tips on forgoing leaf removal and using leaves as fertilizer from the landscaping professionals at The Parke Company.

How to Repurpose Leaves

Leaves as Mulch

Using leaves as mulch is a great way to improve your landscape in a sustainable manner, but it is only beneficial if you do it correctly.

To use your leaves as fertilizer, there are a few things you must do first.

In general, it is best to use leaves that are dry first. If you have wet leaves, you may want to gather and lay them out to allow them to dry. These leaves should then be crushed to spread evenly across your garden or whatever area needs fertilized.

If you have piles of damp leaves with trapped moisture, however, those are not completely lost. These leaves are now decomposing and can still help the state of your garden.

It is best to place the leaves a few inches around trees or shrubs to ensure that you are insulating but not suffocating your landscaping features.

Landscape Benefits

Just like typical mulch, recycled leaves as mulch can benefit your garden in a variety of ways.

Leaves can serve as a tremendous insulator and help to trap heat, protecting some of your more temperature-sensitive plants.

Compost or mulch of any kind can also help to improve the quality of soil. Composting materials from the leaves can improve the fertility of your soil as well as increase the retention of moisture.

Using leaves as a fertilizer is a cost-effective and sustainable way to improve the quality of your garden, all while using materials you already have on your property.

Contact The Parke Company Today

Using leaves can be a great way to save money and beautify your property in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, but to the untrained person, it may be difficult to figure out just where to start.

Avoid the danger and expense of a project gone sideways by hiring the right landscaping maintenance company to meet your specific needs. Whether it is lawn mowing, leaf removal, or more complex projects like hardscape installation and tree trimming, 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. Don’t leave your landscaping maintenance up to chance. Give us a call (615-350-6033) or contact us online today to see how The Parke Company difference can work for you.

Five Things to Know Before Climbing Trees

September 30, 2026April 23, 2021 by The Parke Company

The spring season has already arrived and Nashvillians are all out enjoying the warmer weather. Cheekwood in Bloom, farmer’s markets and marathons are just a few of the many outdoor activities to participate in this spring.

One simple activity kids and adults alike have been doing is climbing trees. It’s an easy way to enjoy the nature around Middle Tennessee without too much fuss or expense. But there are a few things to consider before climbing.

How to Safely Climb a Tree

Stay Safe

Is your tree safe enough to climb or swing? This is the most important factor to consider for tree climbers. Climbing trees can be a lot of fun but if the branches are weak it can be very dangerous. Make sure the trees are tall and healthy before attempting to climb. Do not climb any trees where the branches or trunk appear to be damaged due to lightning, disease or other noticeable factors. If you know that animals live in the tree, consider another tree and leave the critters alone.

Evaluate

Even if the tree looks safe, have your tree evaluated by a professional arborist to be sure. There might be issues with the trees or branches that you might not be able to see right away. Having an arborist do a full tree care work-up will be a sure-fire way to know if the tree is safe for tree climbers.

Learn

Before climbing any branches, be sure to learn or freshen up on any and all safety tips. This will help avoid injuries to you and damage to the tree. Consult with an arborist if you are unsure about the proper tree care when climbing the branches or playing in trees. Tree climbing can be a very enjoyable experience. Plus, it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with Nashville’s vast ecosystem, but you have a responsibility to the tree to know all safety measures before climbing its branches.

Install

Have a professional arborist tie up a swing, if applicable. If you want to do more than a simple climb, our arborists can easily tie up rope and install swings from branches. Trees have been nature’s playground for years, but it’s important to acknowledge and treat the tree with care before adding a swing.

Call for Service

Tree climbers in Nashville are all about having fun. If you’re climbing branches in your own trees, it should be for recreational and educational purposes only. If you need to complete any tree care, call our team of professional arborists. Depending on the tree service, tasks necessary to care for the tree can be dangerous. Do not attempt to complete the job yourself.

The five cardinal rules listed above can help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience when climbing or swinging in the branches of your own tree. Love to climb trees but don’t have access to them in your own backyard? Music City has a couple options for you. Consider working for Parke! Our arborist team is certified and trained to complete a wide variety of tree services, and many of them include climbing trees. You might also consider a recreational tree climbing company like Tree Climbing Planet. It’s great for tree climbers who want to bring out their inner child every so often.

The Parke Company can complete a variety of tree services such as tree care analysis, crown thinning, tree removal, etc. Summer is just around the corner so don’t delay. Get your name in the books today!

Tree Services and Your Swimming Pool: How Can Parke Help?

September 30, 2026April 23, 2021 by The Parke Company

It may not be Memorial Day quite yet, but there are plenty of pools open all over the Nashville area, and plenty more will be opening soon. So what does that have to do with your trees? Well, actually, a lot. Whether your trees the landscape around them need a little maintenance, the Parke Company’s services are valuable assets for your yard.

Our landscape and tree care experts not only make sure your trees are healthy all year long, but they also do their best to ensure safety and an enjoyable experience around the pool during the summer. From safety to sunbathing, there are a lot of factors to consider when dealing with your trees and how they might affect your swimming schedule during the warmer months.

How The Parke Company Can Help Your Pool

Tree safety

The safety of your family and your trees are crucial, especially when you have a pool. Our arborists can do a full analysis on your trees to make sure they’re strong and sturdy. This will only further ensure the trees cannot fall on the pool. If your trees need a little care before everyone piles into the pool, our team can recommend the proper treatment or removal. And while we don’t recommend swimmers use the pool during severe weather, having a tree care analysis done on the pool’s surrounding trees is another way to ensure the utmost safety in your backyard.

Tree maintenance services

A service like crown thinning is a great way to allow sunlight to reach your pool: that’s more sun for that great summer tan! In addition, if your pool is surrounded by trees, fallen leaves can often be a nuisance. If that’s the case, our arborists can come in and trim your trees to help keep those leaves from falling in your pool. Another tree service available that your pool might benefit from would be canopy raising. Our arborists can remove lower growing branches to allow for higher head clearance, making your time outside less dangerous and far more pleasant.

Shrub and landscape maintenance

Having a professional landscape service take care of your lawn is sometimes the best option. One great benefit is that our landscape team will mow with the pool in mind. Our crew will cut the grass to make sure the clippings don’t fall into the pool, all the while keeping the lawn itself looking great. Our team of landscape experts can also assist in planting shrubs, flowers or other plants best suited near a pool. Need one more reason? Your landscape can be one less thing you have to worry about during the summer. That’s more time enjoying the pool and the warm weather!

If you’ve opened your residential or commercial pool already, don’t delay in getting your tree services completed so you can properly enjoy the summer! It doesn’t matter if you need your trees examined for safety measures or if you just need more sunlight through the canopy of the trees’ leaves, calling our arborists at Parke is the right thing to do. Our services include everything from tree service to lawn maintenance. Get your name in the books before our schedule fills up. For more information about our tree care or landscape services, contact us today.