By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter)

Pruning ban aimed at keeping Alberta DED-free

Mar 31, 2017 | 8:42 AM

LETHBRIDGE – It’s devastated the urban forest in some cities. But Alberta is intent on preventing it from happening here.

The annual ban on pruning elm trees takes effect Saturday, April 1. Lindsay Bell, urban forestry technician for the city of Lethbridge, explained in an interview that the purpose is to prevent the spread of the beetle that can cause Dutch elm disease.

“Essentially, this is when elm trees are leafed out, and the elm bark beetles which are the carriers of the Dutch elm disease fungus are flying out and about,” Bell said. “So if you are pruning your tree there’s a chance that the beetles, if they were in your area, would be attracted to your tree, the open wounds on the tree.”

Lethbridge has never had a case of Dutch elm disease. Bell said cities like Winnipeg spend a lot of money to control it.

“We’ve got over 11,000 elm trees in the city, on public and private lands, and it would be a shame to lose those. So we’re asking people, be vigilant, watch out for this disease. If it shows up it could cause a lot of problems and get very expensive in a short period of time,” he said.

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He said people should wait until after the ban ends and the leaves have dropped, then prune in the winter, and in the meantime report any symptoms to the city or province. Symptoms include wilting and curling leaves, and a premature colour change and drop.

While Dutch elm disease is prevalent in neighbouring Saskatchewan and Montana, as well as Manitoba, Alberta is considered free of the disease. The only confirmed case was in Wainwright in 1998, and is believed to have been cuased by firewood that was brought in.