Edmontonians will be allowed to prune their elm trees come Thursday as the provincial ban on trimming canopies lifts until March 31, 2027. City crews will soon begin trimming the nearly 90,000 elm trees in Edmonton’s tree inventory to prevent the spread of bark beetles, known to transmit Dutch elm disease. Pruning was banned by provincial regulation from April 1 to Sept. 30 as the beetles can be attracted to the scent of fresh tree cuts. City crews have found 18 cases of Dutch elm disease since it was first detected in Edmonton in 2024. This year marked 11 of those 18 cases. A newly infected tree in the Calder neighbourhood, announced Tuesday, was the most recent instance of the fungal infection. Those trees have since been safely removed, according to a city media release. The city said it was coordinating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Alberta Plant Health Laboratory to assess and test trees showing symptoms of Dutch elm disease. Residents are reminded to immediately burn pruned elm wood or take it to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre for free disposal. It’s prohibited to store elm wood. Trees with signs of the disease – wilted, drooping or curling leaves that turn brown and stay on the tree, or peeling bark on infected twigs – can be reported to 311.
