Elevated Arbor Solutions

06/11/2026

Ants in Crepe Myrtles: The Hidden Cause of Progressive Dieback
If your beautiful crepe myrtle is looking thin, showing branch dieback, or has sticky black leaves, ants could be the real culprit behind the scenes.
What’s happening?
Ants don’t usually eat the tree directly, but they “farm” aphids and other sap-sucking insects. They protect these pests from natural predators, allowing huge populations to explode. The aphids suck sap from the tree, secrete sticky honeydew, and cause sooty mold — all of which stresses the tree and leads to progressive dieback over time.
This is very common in Texas crepe myrtles during warmer months.
How to Protect Your Trees:
Early monitoring — Catch aphid activity before ants take over
Promote beneficial insects (ladybugs, lacewings) that naturally control aphids
Proper watering and mulching to keep the tree healthy and resilient
Avoid over-fertilizing, which can attract more sap-sucking pests
What to Do Once You Have an Infestation:
Targeted treatments to break the ant-aphid cycle
Horticultural oils or soaps for softer, tree-safe control
Systemic treatments when needed for heavier infestations
Pruning out heavily affected branches to improve airflow and reduce stress
We always start with a proper consultation and assessment. Not every ant sighting means you need heavy treatment — sometimes simple cultural changes make a big difference.
If your crepe myrtles (or other trees) are showing sticky leaves, black soot, or thinning canopy, don’t wait for more dieback.
📸 Drop a photo in the comments or message us — we’re happy to give general advice.
303-803-8623
📍 Serving San Antonio, La vernia, New Braunfels and surrounding areas
Let’s keep your landscape healthy and beautiful all season long!

06/08/2026

What is Included Bark & Why It Matters for Your Trees
One of the most common hidden issues we see in large shade trees (especially live oaks here in Texas) is included bark.
What is it?
Included bark occurs when two branches or a branch and the main trunk grow so close together that bark gets trapped between them. Instead of forming a strong, connected wood union, the tree grows around the bark, creating a weak seam.
What does it mean?
This weak attachment can lead to cracks, splitting, and potential branch failure — especially during storms, high winds, or as the tree gets heavier. It’s like a built-in weak point that gets worse over time.
The good news? Catching it early often means we can save the tree instead of removing it.
How we handle included bark:
Pruning – Carefully removing the weaker branch to prevent future problems
Cabling & Bracing – Installing support systems to strengthen the union when both branches are important
Monitoring – Regular inspections to track changes over the years
Removal – When the defect is too severe and the risk to your home or property is high
At our company, we believe in honest, practical tree care. We’ll always explain what we find in plain English and give you options that balance safety, tree health, and your budget.
Have you noticed tight V-shaped crotches, cracks where branches meet the trunk, or branches that look like they might be growing into each other?
Drop a comment or message us a photo — we’re happy to share general advice or schedule a no-pressure evaluation.

06/05/2026

When Big Live Oaks Become Risky – Have You Seen This?
We recently evaluated a large live oak overhanging a home that showed some serious red flags: major tear-outs from old branches with deep decay in the wounds, plus lateral cracks that were starting to compromise the tree’s stability.
Trees this size with that kind of damage are often too unstable and risky to climb safely. In situations like this, we bring in a trusted grapple crane subcontractor to handle the removal professionally and protect the house below.
Safety is always our #1 priority — both for your property and our crew. We’d rather use the right equipment than take unnecessary chances.
This is a great reminder that not every big, beautiful tree is still safe. Many older live oaks in our area carry hidden damage from storms, lightning, or just age.
✅ Thorough assessments
✅ Honest recommendations
✅ Safe, professional solutions (pruning when possible, removal when necessary)
Have you noticed large cracks, hollow spots, heavy lean, or dead/declining branches on a big tree near your house?
Drop a comment or message us a photo — we’re happy to give general feedback or schedule a proper on-site evaluation

06/04/2026

Elevated Arbor Solutions is now offering stump grinding services.
We grind 8–12 inches below grade and remove or clean up all remaining chips to leave a clean, level finish that’s ready for soil or replanting.
Message us for scheduling and pricing.

06/01/2026

We’ve been invited to submit a bid for a large-scale riverfront tree maintenance project involving oak and palm removals in a high-traffic public area.
Projects like this require careful planning around public safety, access, and infrastructure. If awarded, we’ll share updates as the work progresses.

05/30/2026

Front yard tree removal at a San Antonio home.
The tree was in full decline with extensive dieback, creating a clear safety risk to the home and surrounding property. Removal was performed in a controlled manner to protect the structure, nearby landscaping, and hardscape features.
When a tree reaches this level of decline, proactive removal is the safest option to prevent unexpected failure.
Safe, clean removal with property protection as the top priority.

05/27/2026

We’re proud to announce that Elevated Arbor Solutions is now BBB Accredited!

For us, this is more than just a badge — it represents our commitment to honesty, professionalism, quality workmanship, and treating our customers the right way.

As a locally owned tree care company, we understand that inviting someone onto your property requires trust. BBB Accreditation means we’ve met standards for ethical business practices, transparency, reliability, and customer service.

Our goal has always been simple:
✔ Do quality and health focused tree work
✔ Communicate clearly and effectively
✔ Stand behind the work we do proudly
✔ Act and work with integrity

We truly appreciate every client who has supported our small business and trusted us with their trees and property. We’re excited to continue growing while maintaining the values that got us here in the first place.

Thank you for supporting Elevated Arbor Solutions!

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

Arbor Day 2026 with Elevated Arbor

We had the opportunity to spend the day with the Wildschoolers Homeschool Co-op, focusing on hands-on learning about trees and arboriculture. Activities included tree biology, identification, mulching, soil science, insects, and an introduction to arborist work.

The highlight was giving the kids a chance to climb a tree using ropes and a harness, offering a real glimpse into life as an arborist.

We appreciate the group for celebrating with us and the students for their curiosity and effort.

If you're interested in hosting an educational tree event, feel free to reach out.

03/31/2026

Another live oak brought back to full health 🌳
The project today included a full 100% ball moss removal to assist with weight and photosynthesis, along with structural pruning, deadwood removal, and light canopy thinning where appropriate. The goal was to reduce weight, improve airflow and light pe*******on, and restore strong structure—all without over-pruning.
All work was performed in accordance with ANSI A300 pruning standards and ISA best management practices ensuring the tree’s long-term health, safety, and natural form are preserved.
The result: a healthier, cleaner canopy that’s better equipped to handle wind, stress, drought, and continue thriving in our South Texas climate.
If your trees are starting to look overloaded or stressed, now’s a great time to get ahead of it.
📞 Free consultations
Elevated Arbor Solutions
Aaron Robillard