Basic Info:
Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is a costly and deadly disease that affects all species of Elm trees in Alberta. It is caused by a fungus that clogs the Elm tree's water conducting system, causing the tree to die. The fungus is primarily spread from one Elm tree to another by 3 beetle species. The beetles are attracted to weak and dying trees, which serve as breeding sites. Once the beetles have pupated and turned into adults, they leave the brood gallery and fly to healthy Elms to feed, transporting the fungus on their bodies from one tree to the next. Signs and symptoms of the disease are as follows;
1) Leaves on one or more branches suddenly wilt, droop and curl.
2) Leaves turn yellow, then brown and shrivel, but stay on the tree; this is referred to as “flagging”.
3) DED symptoms can also be seen under the bark of infected branches. When the bark is peeled back, healthy elm wood is cream colored. But when a tree is diseased, dark brown or red streaks can be seen in the infected sample.
4) DED advances quickly and the affected branch will die as more of the tree becomes infected. You might see dead leaves falling out of season.
5) If the tree is infected later in the summer, the leaves on the infected branch or branches will droop, turn yellow and drop prematurely. Late season infections are easily confused with normal seasonal changes in leaf color.
What the city of Edmonton Requires:
1) Elm pruning is ONLY allowed between October 1 and March 31
2) Elm logs and wood chips to be transported to a designated Elm disposal facility on the same day as tree work occurs.
3) Residents and contractors should dispose of Elm debris at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre at 250 Aurum Road. Notify the Edmonton Waste Management staff that Elm debris is being disposed of.
4) Alternative options for disposal of Elm debris include burning or burying to a minimum depth of 25 cm.
5) Elm stumps must be removed to a depth of at least 10 cm below grade. If stump removal will not occur at the time of tree removal, the stump must be immediately debarked.
6) Cutting tools must be sterilized before completing tree work on a different Elm tree.
Trees Effected by Dutch Elm Disease: Ulmus Family.
Government Informational Source Link: https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/pests/dutch-elm-disease
or
https://tidcf.nrcan.gc.ca/en/diseases-caused-by-pathogens/factsheet/10
