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Three Ways to Prepare During Emergency Preparedness Month

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

Emergency Tree Services If you didn’t already know, September is Emergency Preparedness Month! This is an important time to evaluate your home and family’s protocol during an emergency and make a plan. Middle Tennessee can often be the center of major thunderstorms, flooding, winter storms and other natural disasters. For this reason alone it’s important to consider what you and your family need to do in an emergency and ensure you have all the necessary tools on hand should you need them.

Thankfully, Nashville has a great planning system in case of a severe storm, but sometimes that’s not the only thing that helps. There’s no better time than now to sit down with your family and discuss what your family plan might be should you need it. Here are three key factors our arborists recommend when planning and preparing for emergency preparedness:

How to Prepare for Landscape Emergencies

Have Emergency Service Numbers

Our team of tree care experts always recommend having our number on speed dial. Our emergency tree service experts can take care of large, fallen branches and trees. The trees might be blocking roadways or the branches might’ve fallen on a power line. Whatever, the case, make sure you have our number on hand should you experience a tree care emergency. In addition, be sure to have a list of other emergency service numbers such as Nashville’s Electric System, water company, Red Cross and many others. We also recommend writing down these numbers on a sheet of paper and having next to your landline phone or posted on your refrigerator. This way, you have the numbers ready no matter what happens. You never know if you might lose cellular service or run out of battery.

Gather an Emergency Kit for the Home

An emergency kit for your home or business is one of the best ways to stay prepared during a storm. Take a duffel bag or suitcase and compile items you’ll need during a storm. Your emergency kit could include items such as blankets, batteries, flashlights, canned foods and much more. For a full list of items, visit the Red Cross website or the National Weather Service website. And don’t worry! Our arborists emergency tree service crew has an emergency kit full of supplies too!

Put Together Shelter Supplies and an Evacuation Plan

Should the weather get bad enough and you need to evacuate, be sure to have a pack of shelter supplies and an evacuation plan ready. Research where your closest shelter is located beforehand and have a pack of supplies ready so you don’t waste too much time. Map out an evacuation plan with your family in case you are separated during a storm. Don’t forget that your plan should also include our emergency tree services. This way, if branches or trees fall in the roadway, an arborist can come quickly to remove the obstruction allowing you to get safely to a shelter.

Always be prepared! Having an evacuation plan, the appropriate phone numbers (including Parke’s emergency tree service) and kits for the home and shelter are important to ensure safety during a storm. Take the remainder of this month to prepare for an emergency. Want to talk tree care or landscape with us? Call an arborist for more information!

Writer of this blog – Gdweblab

Three Fun Fall Things to Do In Nashville

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

Pile of pumpkins in Nashville in the fall

transplanting-trees-is-best-in-the-fall It’s October in Nashville and we’ve finally seen the weather start to cool off and pumpkins on front porches. But before it gets too cold, be sure to check out the beautiful fall scenery Nashville has to offer. Parke works hard to make sure the many trees and landscapes all over Middle Tennessee are beautiful. And while we don’t get to take care of every single tree in the city, it’s still very rewarding when we hear customers rave about their experiences outside and enjoying Music City’s surroundings. So as the leaves begin to turn and slowly fall off the branches, take advantage of some of Nashville’s most beautiful areas. Need some inspiration? Some suggestions include:

What to Do in Nashville This Fall

Bike the Greenways

This is a great and active way to explore some of the lesser known areas in Nashville. Rent or bring your own bike to the greenway and explore the trails at Two Rivers Park. It’s a great way to get a taste of some of Nashville’s most beautiful and majestic trees, plus, it’s a fun outdoor activity for the entire family to enjoy.

Visit Cheekwood

If you haven’t ever been to Cheekwood, the fall is a great time to check it out! Their landscape is truly something to admire, plus they have beautiful trees that span all over their property. Their fall event, Cheekwood Harvest is a season-long, celebration of all things fall! Their festive event includes a Mum Explosion, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin house, a beer garden and so much more. Cheekwood’s range of fall activities are great for Nashvillians of all ages and it’s a great way to celebrate the falling leaves.

Hike the Warner Parks

If you are looking for something a bit more active but don’t want to bike, we suggest hiking in one of the Warner Parks this fall! There’s nothing like hiking through some of Middle Tennessee’s most treasured parks on a cool, brisk day. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to see a variety of trees, landscape and wildlife. Both Percy and Edwin Warner parks span across 2600 acres of space, and it’s really something to be seen, especially as all the trees change colors for the fall.

There are so many great things to do in Nashville in autumn, especially when it comes to enjoying the outdoors. But really there’s no better place to enjoy the autumn months than your own backyard. Take advantage of your own landscape, and spend some time outside. Read a book underneath your favorite tree or plan a picnic with your family in your backyard. The ideas are endless!

And if your trees or landscape need a little tender, loving care this season, don’t hesitate to call us for any tree care or landscape needs. We have a variety of fall services available to you, including tree transplanting, leaf pick-up, seasonal decorating services and more! (Oh, and did you know you could buy trees and shrubs on our online store now?) We are here to help you get in the holiday spirit. Be sure to call us today for more information!

Scheduling Your Services Now, Pays Off in the Future

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

parke-company-emergency-services-tree-landscape-irrigation-maintenance-blog-Benefits-to-Buying-Larger-Maintenance-Packages-tree-work One of the best things about Parke’s services is that we work with you over the course of many seasons. Should you need tree care in the summer or snow removal in the dead of winter, we have your back. Even though it seems to be getting colder outside and your need for tree care is slowing down, we recommend calling us to schedule the last of your fall services right away. Working with an arborist or landscape team checks off any odds and ends you still have on your list, but it also ensures that you’re covered in the future.

There are so many great benefits to scheduling tree care and landscape services now before it’s too late. Not convinced? Here are three reasons why you won’t regret it:

Emergency services are ready when you need it
The winter season is sneaking up on us and, before you know it, Middle Tennessee will have ice and snow all over the roadways and driveways. That also means your trees will be covered in ice and snow, which can lead to damage of property or blocked roadways. Thankfully, if you are a Parke customer already you will get first priority for winter emergency services. So if a branch falls on your driveway and you’re blocked, our emergency crew at Parke will be at your house in a jiffy, and you can be on your merry way.

It’s one less thing you need to worry during the upcoming holiday season
We all know that the holiday season can bring additional stress and emotion to each and every one of us. That is why scheduling your Parke services now is a great option for the future. Who wants to worry about raking up those leaves, right? It’s one less thing you have to worry about. Call one of our arborists today and get your trees transplanted and those flowerbeds cleaned. That leaves all your attention to enjoying the leaves change, trimming the Christmas tree and carving the turkey.

Bundling services is actually cheaper in the long run
We all like to save money right? Bundling multiple tree and landscape services with Parke ensures that you actually save more money in the long run. Have tree work that an arborist needs to take care of? Have a large landscape that our landscape crew needs to manage? Perhaps you need some decorations for your fall and winter parties you’re hosting this year? If any of these things are what you need, then we suggest calling us today and discussing bundling the services in order to save a little cash. And what better time to save money than right before all the holiday shopping begins?

Our crew of experienced landscape specialists and arborists are certified at making sure that your trees and your landscape look impeccable through the entire year. By scheduling the services now, you are guaranteeing yourself less hassle as the winter months emerge. For more information about tree care services, landscape services, and any other services that Parke offers, give us a call today!

Three Cool Ways to Use your Leaves After they Fall

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

Reuse fall leaves A great part about fall is enjoying the beautiful Nashville foliage that comes from the season turning cooler and the days getting shorter. And as we already know, the less daylight that comes each day, the more the leaves will start to turn and slowly fall off the branches.

So even though Middle Tennessee is still seeing much warmer afternoons, as Daylight Savings Time comes into play and the nights get cold, we will start to see even more leaves fall into our backyards. But what should we do once the leaves are on the ground? Short from ignoring the leaves and letting them sit on our landscape all winter long, our arborists have come up with some fun and useful ways to use the leaves around you. So whether you hire our landscape crew to do the leaf pick-up or you’re doing the chore yourself, the end-game makes it all worth it. Here are three great ways:

How to Utilize Leaves After They Fall

Mulch and fertilizer

Using the leaves from your trees as mulch and fertilizer is probably the best way to repurpose them. Be sure to talk to a member from our landscape crew about what you want to do. They can not only gather the leaves, but also turn it into mulch and then lay it out over the necessary areas along your landscape. This leaves your landscape prepared for the winter and ready for the spring when it arrives.

Arts and crafts

Another way to repurpose your leaves is to make crafts with your family and friends. The possibilities are endless and it’s a great opportunity to spend some time with your loved ones without too much cost. Use materials you already have on hand such as glue, scissors, add construction paper and see what you can come up with. Maple trees have big and beautiful shaped leaves, which can be a great addition to your project. Consider even adding berries and needles to add texture.

Playground for kids and animals

If all else fails, make your piles of leaves a playground for your children or animals to enjoy (and even you — we won’t judge!) Once enough leaves fall from the branches, let Parke know you want to save the piles around your yard. Once they’re piled high, have your kids enjoy themselves. It’s a free, easy playground that will keep them busy for the afternoon (just remember to check them for ticks after you’re finished).

From mulching to art projects, you have several options at your disposal for using your leaves. Our crew of arborists and landscapers have always been in the business of recycling and this isn’t any different. So as the leaves keep falling from the branches and the weather outside is still nice, get creative with the leaves and enjoy the last month of fall.

Interested in learning more about Parke’s services? Our arborists offer a range of tree care services. In addition, a variety of landscape services are available all year long. For more information, contact us today!

Parke’s Gift Guide for the Holiday Season

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

The holiday season is rapidly approaching. Nashville stores are already full of Christmas decorations and early Black Friday sales. But if you are in the market this year to give something more unique than a holiday gift set, consider the many tree services we offer at the Parke Company! If you or someone you know and love owns their own home, you know how expensive it can be so why not treat them to a little monetary reprieve and give them a gift that keeps on giving? Our arborists offer a variety of landscape and tree services, but there are several that would be truly special this holiday season. Here are a few suggestions:

Give a live Christmas tree
This gift idea is easily one of our favorites. If you know someone who’s always wanted a live Christmas tree, this is a great opportunity. With the help of our arborists, we can make their Christmas dream come true! Our crew will install the tree and then when the holidays are over, they will transplant the tree in the backyard. This is not only a present for the holidays, but it allows the tree to live for many years to come. If you are interested in purchasing a live tree for someone, be sure to do it soon so they have it in time!

Buy a holiday decoration service
One of our favorite landscape services we offer is decorating. If you know someone who loves to decorate the outside of their home, but perhaps can no longer do so because of old age or because they’re too busy, this is a great gift! We can work with you or the gift recipient to ensure the decorations are exactly what you/they want. It’s also a great way to surprise folks you love with a little holiday cheer. However, like the live trees, schedule this landscape service sooner rather than later to get your name in the books.

Buy a shrub, plant or tree using online store
Did you know you can purchase trees, plants and shrubs on our online store? That’s right! It’s an easy and effective way to purchase what you like at your own convenience. Our online store is a great tool for gift-giving this season because it allows you to pick out exactly what you want to give at the price point you can afford. Though our online store is a great tool for the holidays, it’s also a great gift-buying experience for other occasions, such as a housewarming or congratulatory event. Just drop what you want in your cart, pay and we will call you to schedule a time to come out and plant.

Don’t let the thought of Christmas shopping overwhelm you this year. With the help of our landscape and arborists, your holiday shopping can be finished in a jiffy! And don’t forget – there is always room to buy a little gift for yourself, too. Whether it’s one of the landscape or tree services listed above or something else, our team of experienced professionals have got you covered. Want more information? Give us a call today! Happy Holidays, Nashvillians!