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5 Landscaping Tips for a Nashville Winter

September 30, 2026September 14, 2020 by The Parke Company

Taking care of your landscaping may be the last thing on your mind during our Nashville winters, but there are preventive and maintenance steps that you should be aware of. The Parke Company, Nashville’s premiere landscaping service and tree service, has five easy tips to get your spring lawn off to a great start.

This winter has been a doozy so far, with temperatures in January fluctuating from 21 degrees to 64 degrees. However, just because there may be frost or snow on the ground does not mean that your landscaping will take care of itself until the real spring thaw.

Landscaping Tips for The Winter

Winter is Not the Time to Ignore Your Landscaping

With that in mind, we would like to offer up five tips to help your lawn make it through the winter unscathed:

1.Discourage people from walking on the grass when there is frost or snow on the ground. Grass, particularly young grass blades, can break from the weight. While typically the grass will recover in spring, we still recommend traffic be kept to a minimum. Make sure your walkways are cleared of snow to discourage people from taking a shortcut across the lawn.

2. Protect plants from cold, dry winter winds. Frost and dry winds can damage trees, cracking bark and limbs. Needles on evergreen shrubs can be severely damaged and turn an ugly brown. Of special concern are plants with roots near or exposed to the surface. Cover the base of the plant with mulch to provide protection from the wind.

3. Winter is actually a great time to add to your landscape. The deciduous transplant season begins right after the first hard freeze and continues until the first leaves appear in spring. Transplanting after the plant has gone dormant for the winter provides more time for it to acclimate to its new bed because it’s not pushing new growth.

4. Do you have crepe myrtles, liriope (monkey grass), or boxwoods? Winter is a good time for pruning these. In fact, you can only prune them while they are dormant. Now is also a good time to put down pre-emergent herbicide to hold down the weeds. In Nashville, we unfortunately have a variety of weeds that thrive during the winter.

5. Spend some time doing what we do for our clients during the winter season planning. When the warmer weather of spring hits and you feel like anything is possible now that you have survived winter – in other words, you’re on an emotional high – it is the wrong time to order additions to your landscaping. You’ll be happier if you plan out your spring flower additions, tree services, hardscape additions, and any other landscape issues when you have the down time of winter to work with.With a little luck, Nashville will get a thaw in late March and our landscapes will turn green again. Make sure your lawn and plants wake up from the winter snooze in good condition by caring for them during the cold season.

Need help planning for spring? Feel free to give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss the latest landscaping trends with you.

Why Pine Straw Makes a Great Mulch for Nashville Landscapes

September 30, 2026September 14, 2020 by The Parke Company

We all know that mulch plays an important role in protecting gardens, tree bases, and shrubbery. Mulch comes in a variety of materials and colors and each has its “best application scenario.” However, one that we think goes largely unconsidered is pine needles.

At the Parke Company, Nashville’s leading landscaping service and tree service, we think that the sustainable pine needle, or pine straw mulch, is underutilized. On its face, pine straw is more expensive than other mulches, but when you consider its benefits, it is likely the better value in the long run.

Why Pine Straw Makes a Great Mulch

In Nashville, we have an abundance of pine trees. Pine needle mulch is “created” simply by raking up the needles that fall from the trees. Not a single tree is harmed in the gathering of pine straw mulch. It’s light, it spreads easily, and pine needle mulch has a unique “interlocking” capability that holds it in place. These are the qualities that make this mulch desirable from a maintenance standpoint; let’s see what else it can do:

Soil protection. Like all mulches, pine needles provide important insulation for the soil, protecting it from extreme temperatures. Pine needles also soften the impact of rain, minimizing soil compaction and erosion. Because they “interlock,” pine needles stay in place and do not float away like wood-based mulch. This means you are unlikely to find mulch on your walkways and you won’t have to “top off” as frequently as wood mulch.

Improving soil. If you have acid-loving plants like azaleas or roses, pine straw creates a chemically balanced soil to ensure that these plants thrive. While the needles themselves have little nutritional value, they encourage helpful microbes as the mulch degrades.

Visual appeal. Pine needles are finely textured and have a uniform neutral color, unlike chunky, brightly colored wood-based mulch that says “look at me.” The pine needles tend to set off the bright colors of your flowers and shrubs. Pine needles also prevent rain from splashing mud on your plants.

Value. As mentioned, pine needles look to be about three times as expensive as wood mulches when they are placed side by side. But in reality, they’re cheaper. A study by Texas A&M determined that a single round bale of pine straw mulch covers a 10-foot-by-10-foot bed to a depth of 2 inches. To achieve the same coverage with pine bark, pine nuggets, or red mulch would require over eight bags. So a single bale of needles is more expensive than a bag of mulch, but you need 8 times as much bagged mulch to equal the bale.

In short, pine needle mulch is an effective, efficient, and overall better value for your mulching needs. This spring, you should give it serious consideration when planning the protection of your garden and flower beds.

Not surprisingly, the Parke Company does more than tree trimming, tree removal, and other affordable tree services – we also provide mulch. Give us a call today and we will be happy to explain why pine straw may be the perfect pick for your landscape.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Nashville Lawns and Landscaping

September 30, 2026September 14, 2020 by The Parke Company

You may think we are jumping the gun a bit talking about spring cleaning in February, but we’re not. If you are serious about getting your lawn and flower beds off to a great start this spring, you need to do some planning. What better time to plan than when the ground is still frozen and winter has put all your plants to sleep?

At the Parke Company, Nashville’s leading source of landscaping services, we don’t do much in the way of lawn maintenance in the winter. What we do is work on maintaining our equipment and plan landscapes for clients in the spring. Brainstorming before you actually tackle a spring cleaning will make the project go smoother and save you some cash as well.

5 Tips on How to Do a Nashville Lawn Spring Cleaning

So let’s take a look at this project with an eye towards what you are going to do and when.

Get inspired. It may be a gloomy day outside, but you need to be thinking about how you want your lawn looking when the warmer days of spring arrive. What shrubs, flowers, or landscape features do you want to add and where? Are you planting perennials or annuals or both? When? For inspiration, you can turn to magazines, scour the internet, or simply walk down the aisles of your favorite home improvement store. Write down what you are going to add, where (sketch a map), and when.
Visualize the end product. Your landscape should complement or contrast with your existing exterior colors and themes. Keep the color and architectural style of your home in mind when you are picking out blooming shrubs and flowers. When thinking about the placement of new shrubs, make sure you are not crowding walkways. Also, is that shrub a shrub or a small tree? Most plants will come with a tag that describes mature heights. You don’t want to block windows.
Ready for some exercise? When the smell of mud is in the air, it’s time for lawn maintenance. Grab some leaf bags, heavy gloves, scissors, a pooper scooper, and your trusty leaf rake and dive in. Scissors are often more efficient in cutting stalks from perennials than pruners. Your rake is your main tool. A good thorough raking will collect all the debris, trash, and feces that have accumulated over the winter. A solid raking will also reduce thatch. This up close and personal time with your lawn will also allow you to spot lawn problems that may have cropped up over the winter months.
Stake out your plan. Use the sketch you made and place stakes to plot out the areas where you will be planting new additions. With stakes in the ground, you’ll be able to better determine the number and placement of plants that you will actually need.
The heavy lifting. Now the real work begins. You’ll want to prepare garden beds by breaking up the soil and adding mulch. If you are creating a new bed, you may want to consider using garden fabric to create a barrier designed to minimize weeds. If you are a believer in chemical fertilizers, apply a weed and feed solution that includes a pre-emergent weed killer.

Give Us a Call

Your next step might be a call to us. Rather than doing the digging and planting, give the tree experts a call and we will be happy to get it done for you. Either way, you’ll be off to a great start for spring 2018.

What Can a Nashville Landscaper Do for You?

September 30, 2026September 14, 2020 by The Parke Company

Nashville is fortunate to have an abundance of lovely old homes surrounded by lawns and trees. The Parke Company, Nashville’s leading landscaping service and tree service, has been transforming those well-kept lawns into eye-catching landscaped spaces for years.

The difference between a well-maintained yard and a professionally landscaped lawn can be breathtaking. Curb appeal immediately goes up, but more importantly, a landscape gives the homeowner his or her own piece of private paradise.

At the Parke Company, we have been designing, installing, and maintaining these natural havens for homeowners in Memphis, Belle Meade, Green Hills, Oak Hills and other communities for over a decade. While we are probably best known for our tree trimming, tree transplanting, and tree removal services, we also provide a wide range of other services that enhance the total landscape.

Have You Considered?

If you are thinking about making improvements to your lawn but are unsure of what would work where, we suggest you sit down with our designer and talk about your ideas. Our designers and certified arborists see green space differently than most people. They know which trees thrive and provide shade, which shrubs complement which architectural styles, and how to lay out a landscape that will require minimal maintenance.

They deal with landscaping daily and you can trust their knowledge to make your dream lawn a reality. It’s about more than adding a flower bed and a bush.

The landscaping services we provide include:

Landscape design and installation. We will listen to what your objective is and then provide our ideas on how to best achieve that. Once the plan is approved, installation is quick, no hassle, and surprisingly affordable.
Sod. New and replacement.
Irrigation systems. We can install new systems, repair existing lines, or modify the lines to better irrigate the space.
Hardscapes. We can install a variety of water features, pagodas, screens, and other “hardscape” items.
Mulch service. We use both wood-based and pine straw mulch to protect your spaces from drought, weed infestation, and root disease.
Installation of pavers and walkways.
Tree removal, trimming, transplanting, stump removal.
Outdoor lighting. Decorative lighting to highlight your landscape or practical lighting for patios, decks, outdoor kitchens, etc.
Installation of firepits.
Flower beds. We prepare the beds, provide the bloomers, plant them, ensure there is adequate irrigation and drainage, and apply a layer of mulch.
Emergency tree service. When a bad storm hits the Nashville area, you can count on snapped limbs and even fallen trees. We provide quick response to our customers to ensure their property doesn’t experience additional harm from damaged trees.

The Parke Company is a member of the ISA, is an ISA Certified Arborist, belongs to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscaping Association, and is an IPCI certified installer for hardscapes. We know our business.

Contact The Parke Company

If you are thinking about creating your own outdoor space and you want it done professionally, we invite you to contact us today. We are happy to sit down with you and discuss the options that fit both your objectives and your budget. Call today.

7 Fast Growing Trees for Your Nashville Landscape

September 30, 2026September 14, 2020 by The Parke Company

While most of us probably take it for granted, we are lucky to have so many beautiful trees that prosper in Tennessee. Those trees can do a lot for a landscape. They give shade, color, vertical dimension, and they provide a habitat for birds, critters, and mostly useful insects. On the practical side, their shade can reduce energy bills, provide a windbreak, deafen traffic noise, and define property lines.

Trees are a valuable addition to a home. As a matter of fact, homes with Nashville trees sell faster than homes without, even if all other considerations are equal. Trees are a smart investment.

Here in Nashville, we not only have a wide range of trees to pick from, but many that are fast growing. Fast growing is a relative term when you’re talking about trees, but some species can grow 3 to 6 feet per year. When you think about transplanting trees, keep in mind that you won’t have to wait a generation to see the results.

What are the Fastest Growing Trees in Nashville?

Here are a few of our favorites, but be sure to read the caveat after the listing:

Autumn Blaze Maple. Award-winning foliage and rapid growth make this maple a favorite among Nashville landscapes. It is insect and disease resistant and provides amazing autumn color.
Thuja Green Giant. Another tree that is insect and disease resistant. Its root system requires a little space, so placement is important. That root system delivers 3 to 5 feet of growth per year.
Arapaho Crape Myrtle. This tree provides a bright red color from spring through autumn. It doesn’t mind tight spots and it is also disease and insect resistant.
Liberty Holly. Not for everyone, but it grows super fast almost anywhere you place it. It provides a dense screen and is fairly easy to maintain.
Tulip Poplar. Is six feet a year fast enough for you? This tree has beautiful yellow blooms in the spring and offers a golden foliage in the autumn.
Lombardy Poplar. Another six-foot-a-year grower that is great for windbreaks.
Autumn Cherry. Who doesn’t like cherry trees? Despite its name, the autumn cherry blooms both in the spring and the autumn. Giant white double blossoms provide an elegant presence. A very adaptable tree, it will grow almost anywhere.

While these are all fast growers, your results are going to depend on soil conditions, placement, irrigation, and other factors.

Enjoy the Beauty of New Trees Without the Hassle

If you decide to invest in new trees, you really owe it to yourself to contact Nashville’s leading landscaping service and tree service, the Parke Company. Our certified arborist can assist you in the selection and evaluate your property to determine the best placement. If your new tree is replacing a dead or diseased tree, we can do the tree removal and transplant.

Tree maintenance like tree trimming is a specialty of ours. At the Parke Company, we are equipped and staffed to handle all of your tree landscaping requirements. Give us a call today and we will be happy to share our suggestions for fast growing trees that will fit perfectly into your existing landscape.