By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Elm pruning ban now in effect

Apr 9, 2018 | 10:26 AM

LETHBRIDGE – To prevent the spread of Dutch Elm Disease, a province-wide pruning ban for all species of elm trees is in effect from April 1 to Sept. 30.

Urban Forestry Technician Lindsay Bell says the ban is put in place to keep people from cutting their trees at this time of year because that’s going to attract Elm Bark beetles to their trees.

“Those beetles carry the DED fungus, and it’s in people’s best interest to hold off and only prune their elm trees in the winter months,” Bell said.

Provincial regulations prohibit the storage, sale or transport of elm wood.

A release from the city asks residents to watch for symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease on elm trees in their neighbourhoods.

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“In Lethbridge, it’s really unique in that we have over 10,000 elm trees scattered in parks, boulevards, and people’s yards. Of course, being in Southern Alberta we are limited in what species of trees we can grow, and elm trees are a big component of our urban forest here,” Bell said, adding they want to protect those trees because if they end up with DED not only will they lose all of those trees, but then they’ll have to replant on top of that.

“First thing is if your tree doesn’t leaf out this spring, obviously there’s something going on,” he continued. “That’s something that we’d like to take a look at because maybe it was infected last year.”

He says they’re also watching as the trees leaf out and get into full leaf around mid-June and through the month of July.

“Leaf’s on infected trees are going to wilt, curl up and turn brown. If people start seeing things like that, it’s a good sign to reach out and have someone come out and inspect that tree. Leaves on trees infected late in the season will turn yellow and drop prematurely,” Bell stated.