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Tree Trimming or Removal? What’s the Right Call?

May 29, 2024November 30, 2012 by The Parke Company

We have specialty doctors for every possible illness and bodily function: podiatrists, dentists, internists, cardiologists, oncologists. We have specialty veterinarians for our precious pets: equine, avian, canine, feline. And yes, we even have tree doctors, and you can find them right here in Middle Tennessee.

Tree Service of Nashville has expert tree doctors who have years of experience in caring for diseased and decaying trees. But how do you know when your tree is in need of a doctor’s care?

The first thing is if there’s any question, call an expert and they should come out for free and assess it. There are several common signs of tree decay which may be overlooked, such as dead branches, leaves drying up in specific areas, a blemish on the trunk, or anything out of the ordinary.

It may be difficult to notice these signs in late fall and winter when leaves have already fallen, but in the spring, when trees start leafing out, one symptom of a tree in trouble–asymmetry in a tree’s canopy–will be evident.

While disease and pests are the most common causes of tree decline, some tree problems are the result of “mechanical injuries,” in which an object has caused injury to the tree. An example of a mechanical injury is when a sapling is nicked or scraped during lawn mowing. It kills tree the tree from that point up. It may be 10-20 years down the road before the damage shows up.

Tree removals might not be necessary, and a concerned homeowner should call a tree company to assess the problem. At Tree Service of Nashville, we offer tree removal services in all areas, from Brentwood to Hendersonville and beyond, but we first invest in keeping trees alive.

Trees often can have diseases, but trees are treatable. Instead of spending a thousand dollars to cut down a tree, you may just spend a couple hundred to apply an infecticide or insecticide treatment to keep it alive for another 20 years.

For more information on tree services, such as removal of tree, tree trimming, and treating or removing damaged trees, contact Tree Service of Nashville today.

How To Decorate Trees and Bushes Safely for Christmas

March 7, 2024November 29, 2012 by The Parke Company

Your Christmas gifts to the children? Toys and games. Your gift to Santa? Milk and cookies. Your gift to the neighbors? A festive yard, tastefully decorated for the holidays.

From decorator’s magazines to holiday movie classics like A Christmas Story, inspiration abounds. Possibilities for holiday landscape decorating range from the outlandish to the refined. Some homeowners prefer the simplicity of white lights sparingly draped around small pines or other conifers. Others may enjoy the delicate look of muted, duo-toned, fragile ornament balls and glass icicles.

And then there are always the show (and traffic) stoppers: The life-sized, inflatable, “Santa-in-his-sleigh-with-reindeer” on the roof; Goliath-sized candy canes lining the front walk; and enough multi-colored, flashing lights to require installation of an additional electrical service box.

Usually interested in giving advice about a different type of tree trimming, Tree Service of Nashville offers a few ideas about deciduous and evergreen adornment. Applying principles of interior decorating to exterior holiday decorating will not only give your yard style, it’ll also save you time for holiday shopping when you nail that tasteful look the first time.

1. Consider the overall space to maintain balance. Take stock of the number of lights, ornaments, etc. you have on hand and don’t over-embellish one area at the expense of another.

2. Stick to a decorating theme. Don’t use small ornaments in one area and large in another. If you have both on hand, mix throughout your foliage.

3. Pay attention to the details. Just because ornaments are in the yard doesn’t mean they should get away with being shabby. Toss out any broken ornaments or frayed ribbon and garland.

Of course these principles can apply to many aspects of yard design year-round. From lawn mowing to tree removal, Tree Service of Nashville can show you how quality lawn services can make you a favorite among your East Nashville, Belle Meade or Brentwood neighbors. For information on best practices for lawn maintenance, contact Tree Service of Nashville today!

Decorating Homes Safely for the Holiday Season

March 7, 2024November 28, 2012 by The Parke Company

Little known scientific fact: cats get stuck in trees because their claws are perfectly shaped for climbing up but not so well designed for climbing down. Of course, we can’t read their minds, so we don’t know if Kitty’s precarious situation at the top of that maple is thanks to claw design or fear.

For us humanoid types, fear and physiology often both play a part. Yet, in our dedication to spreading holiday cheer, our efforts border on the heroic for overcoming both. Yes, the indomitability of the human spirit is to be lauded, but a little caution can be taken from the annals of Hollywood. (Think National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.)

It’s also good to keep in mind that those tree trimmers you saw shaping up the large elm near Belle Meade Boulevard early last spring make climbing look easy not only because they’re professionals, they’ve also embraced the importance of climbing safety.

In our continuing, year-round efforts to keep customers safe, Tree Service of Nashville not only protects homeowners from falling limbs of decaying trees, we also encourage homeowners from Hendersonville to Brentwood to consider these tips for avoiding outdoor, light-hanging, holiday mishaps:

1. Use appropriately sized, sturdy-enough-for-the-job ladders, and follow all precautions posted on the ladder safety sticker.

2. It’s never advisable to swim alone, and it’s also not advisable to hang outdoor Christmas lights alone. In fact, any time a ladder and roof or tall tree are involved, it’s a good idea to have a buddy.

3. Read labels on string lights carefully to ensure they are certified for outdoor use.

4. Maintain a healthy fear of (and steer clear of) power lines near roofs and trees.

5. Love yourself, love your tree. Don’t use nails or staples to attach strings of lights to the trunk of that lovely evergreen. Avoiding sharp metal objects near electricity is good for your health, and good for your tree, too.

To continue to love your trees throughout the year, contact us for all your tree service, lawn service and lawn maintenance needs!

Removing Leaves in Nashville, Tennessee

March 7, 2024November 26, 2012 by The Parke Company

Here in Nashville, there are a lot of trees. Old, broad, tall trees with a lot of leaves. Though leaves are beautiful, when they eventually fall to the ground they can cover your lawn so densely that you might not see any grass at all. In the quest to get rid of leaves and save lawns, there are a few options.

1. Raking. Raking leaves while they are dry is an effective way to get leaves into piles. The biggest advantage to raking is that it’s cheap. Rakes are inexpensive and effective. Wholesale stores like Costco or Sam’s Club, as well as grocery stores sell compost bags specifically designed for leaves. These compost bags run from $.35 a bag if you buy in bulk, to $2.50 per individual bag. The bags can then be taken to compost centers for further use. The downside to the raking method is time. It can take a while to get leaves raked into piles and placed into compost bags. Remember, if you use this method, always wear gloves to protect from injury.

2. Leaf blowing. Leaf blowers are an effective and time efficient way to get leaves into piles. When looking for a leaf blower, there a few key things to look at:

Electric or Gas Powered
Overall Engine Power in MPH
Mulching Kit Component

There are advantages to owning electric and gas powered leaf blowers. Most leaf blowers on the market tend to be electric, so a quality extension cord should also be purchased. Typical engine speeds range from approximately 150 mph to 260 mph, depending on the make and model.

3. Mulching. Many leaf blowers have a mulching kit attachment available. Mulching leaves into compost is the most efficient way to eliminate leaves from a lawn. Many leaf blowers have suction speeds ranging from 180 mph to 220 mph. It’s important to look at blade types as well, as metal blades will last longer than plastic blades. Another consideration is if the mulching kit has a bag attachment or a plastic hose attachment. If your property has a lot of twigs and acorns, you should consider going with a leaf blower/mulching kit that has a rubber or plastic hose attachment rather than just a bag attachment. Twigs can be sharp and often rip through bag attachments, meaning repeat purchases of mulching attachment bags are necessary. Once you fill up a mulching bag or can, simply put the compost into compost bags and take them to your local compost center.

However you choose to get rid of your leaves this fall, just remember to be careful and exercise a “safety first” mentality. For more tips on leaves and all things trees, please feel free to contact us today!

How to Start Your Own Backyard Composting System

March 7, 2024October 3, 2012 by The Parke Company

It’s a beautiful time of year. The air is cool and crisp. Comfy, beautiful sweaters are making their way from the back of the closet. And leaves are changing colors all over the country. Beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow take the place of vibrant spring greens.

And then, those leaves fall to the ground.

It becomes quite a chore for homeowners to keep up with the falling leaves during fall and winter lawn care, but instead of bagging and sending them to the landfill. There is another option: composting.

Starting a backyard composting system is fairly easy and requires three basic ingredients: “browns,” “greens,” and water.

The “browns” in the composting recipe are those beautiful colorful (but dead) leaves, branches and twigs that have fallen from trees, shrubs, bushes. The “greens” in the mix refer to fresh grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peels and waste, and even coffee grounds.

Start a compost pile (or fill a bin) now with those three ingredients, turn and mix frequently, and you’ll have ready-to-use compost in as little as two months. You’re basically creating the food for the following season’s landscaping.

For more on starting your own composting system, what to use and what not to use, visit TreeHugger.com.