It is particularly important to keep the disease out of our urban areas because elms are invaluable shade trees lining our city streets — there are few trees that are as long-lived, sturdy and hardy. Some cities like Winnipeg have lost nearly all their elms and the city takes extreme measures to save the few that remain. Infected trees were identified in Saskatoon in 2015, 2020 and 2021. In Regina, DED first appeared in 1981 and has popped up sporadically since.
The disease is caused by Ophiostoma ulmi, a fungus that clogs the water and nutrient transport tissues in the elm tree, killing branches and ultimately the whole tree. The fungus spreads from tree to tree by spores that cling to elm bark beetles. The spore-laden beetles bore into dead or dying elm wood to make cavities where they lay their eggs. Spores get dislodged inside the tree during this process, and fungal infection develops. The insect eggs hatch into larvae and feed inside the tree.
Many dollars have been spent to try and contain DED. The City of Saskatoon Parks Department has a crew dedicated to DED surveillance and testing during the season. The city also has programs for distributing educational materials, DED inspections, permits, specialized pruning schedules and monitoring. Additional budget resources are provided to promptly remove and dispose of infected trees when a positive infection is detected in the community.
We noticed a broken elm branch above our garage one April several years ago that was likely to fall and damage the roof. The tree also had branches overhanging and brushing against our neighbour’s roof, with the potential to damage the shingles. We contacted the city and within 24 hours an inspector came to assess our tree. He wrote a permit which allowed us to prune specific branches, with instructions for the correct disposal of material .
Another way to minimize spread of the disease is to dispose of any dead elm wood correctly and not to use as fire wood. Storing and transporting elm wood is prohibited by provincial regulation at any time of the year.Keep your elms healthy by pruning dying or dead branches during Sept. 1 – March 31.If you see signs of DED , report them to your municipal authority.Article contentThis column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society.
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