Residents are being asked not to prune their elm trees to help prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease throughout the province.
Every year the provincial government declares a pruning ban from April 1 to Sept. 30 as bark beetles, the bugs which spread the highly infectious disease, are extremely active in the spring and summer seasons and are attracted to the scent of fresh cut trees.
• Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device
According to a Thursday release from the city, elm trees make up nearly 22 per cent of Edmonton’s forestry.
Prevention measures from the city and the province will be implemented, including:
- assessing and testing of trees showing symptoms;
- pruning and removing of high risk trees to reduce beetle habitat; and
- applying human and animal-safe pesticides on infected trees to limit the spread.
Residents can also help by:
- using firewood exclusively from where it was bought and not bringing it home;
- pruning elm trees between October and March to remove dead or infected branches; and
- calling 311 if signs of Dutch elm disease are present.
The first case of the disease was confirmed in Edmonton in August 2024, with five total cases identified since. The last case in Edmonton was recorded in October 2024.
For more information on the disease, visit the City of Edmonton’s website.
