Tree Scouts Arborist Cited by Martha Stewart & The Spruce

When National Publications Need Expert Insight

When a national publication needs expert insight on tree care, they look for professionals with real credentials. That's why Martha Stewart's editorial team and The Spruce both reached out to our lead arborist, Levi Williams, as an expert source — across four separate articles.

Levi is an ISA Certified Arborist (TX-4955A), holds a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), carries a Texas Pesticide Applicator License, and holds an Urban Forest Professional designation through the International Society of Arboriculture. You can learn more about his qualifications and those of our full team on our certifications page.

Here's a look at each article and what Levi shared.

Stump Grinding Safety: The Right Way to Remove a Stump

In Martha Stewart's guide on how to safely remove a tree stump, Levi outlined an eight-step process for homeowners considering stump grinding on their own. His recommendations covered everything from selecting the right equipment for the stump size to checking for underground utilities, setting up debris barriers, and wearing proper personal protective equipment before ever starting the grinder.

He also emphasized the importance of reading the machine's manual before operating it — something that sounds obvious but gets skipped more often than you'd think — and stressed that if there's any doubt, hiring a professional is always the safer call.

At Tree Scouts, stump grinding is one of the services we handle most frequently across Georgetown, Leander, Austin, and the surrounding area. It's fast, clean, and eliminates the pest and re-sprouting risks that come with leaving a decaying stump in the ground.

Read the full article: How to Kill a Tree Stump Safely and Effectively, According to Experts — Martha Stewart

Choosing Driveway-Safe Trees: Why Italian Cypress Isn't Always the Answer

Martha Stewart's article on trees to avoid planting near your driveway featured Levi's input on Italian cypress. While these trees look striking in a Mediterranean-style landscape, Levi pointed out that they struggle with heat reflected off concrete surfaces and can actually damage driveways with their expansive root systems over time.

This is the kind of guidance homeowners in Central Texas need to hear. In neighborhoods across Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Round Rock, we frequently see trees planted too close to hardscape that end up cracking driveways, lifting sidewalks, or suffering from heat stress. A quick conversation with a certified arborist before planting can save thousands in future repairs.

Read the full article: 10 Trees You Should Never Plant Near Your Driveway — Martha Stewart

Fruit Tree Pruning: Don't Overdo It

In Martha Stewart's guide to trimming fruit trees in the fall, Levi shared a critical rule of thumb that many homeowners overlook: don't remove more than 20 to 30 percent of a tree's branches in a single pruning session. Cutting too aggressively can reduce fruit production the following season and stress the tree.

Proper pruning is about understanding tree biology, not just making the canopy look tidy. At Tree Scouts, our tree trimming approach follows ISA and ANSI A300 standards because the way a cut is made — where, when, and how much — directly affects the long-term health and structure of the tree.

If you have fruit trees on your property in the Georgetown, Austin, or Lakeway area and want them pruned correctly, our arborist team can help.

Read the full article: How to Trim Fruit Trees in the Fall — Martha Stewart

Spring Pruning Mistakes That Can Harm Your Trees for Years

The Spruce — one of the most-read home and garden publications online — featured Levi alongside other certified arborists in their article on common spring tree pruning mistakes. The piece covers the errors homeowners most often regret once the growing season is underway, from topping trees and making improper cuts to pruning at the wrong time of year.

Levi's input focused on the risks of pruning too early or too late in the season, the consequences of improper technique, and why spring pruning requires more care than most homeowners realize. These are the same issues our crew encounters on job sites across Central Texas every week — trees that were topped by a previous company, flush cuts that invited decay, or oaks pruned during high-risk months for oak wilt transmission.

If you're unsure whether your trees need spring pruning or want a second opinion on work that's already been done, our arborist consultation is a good place to start.

Read the full article: 5 Spring Tree Pruning Mistakes That Might Harm Your Trees for Years to Come — The Spruce

What This Means for Our Customers

Being cited by publications like Martha Stewart and The Spruce isn't something we take lightly. It reinforces what our 400+ five-star reviews already reflect — that Tree Scouts brings a level of professionalism and expertise that stands out in the Central Texas tree care market.

Whether you need tree trimming, safe tree removal, stump grinding, oak wilt treatment, or just want an honest assessment of what your trees need, our ISA-certified team is here.

We serve Georgetown, Austin, Leander, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Round Rock, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Bee Cave, and the surrounding Hill Country communities. Call 512-265-0861 or book a free tree health assessment today.