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October 25, 2024
The City of Edmonton has confirmed a fifth elm tree has tested positive for Dutch elm disease (DED).
The elm tree is on private property in the Killarney neighbourhood, in close proximity to the four trees confirmed in August to have Dutch elm disease. A one-kilometre protocol zone was established around these trees at that time. The City has been performing enhanced monitoring and assessments in this area to contain the spread of the disease.
“City arborists and foresters remain vigilant as they continue implementing the established action plan, including intensified surveillance of elm trees in the protocol zone. This additional confirmed case does not change our approach as we continue assessments, removals and testing to contain the spread of Dutch elm disease,” said Mark Beare, Director of Infrastructure Operations.
The fifth tree to test positive was initially sampled in late September and test results, at that time, were negative. However, City crews monitoring the protocol zone observed a rapid decline in the health of the tree, including brown staining under the bark - a common sign of DED. Given the close proximity to other positive trees, a new sample was submitted for testing and the fungal pathogen that causes Dutch elm disease was identified on October 24.
The City is working with the property owner to ensure this tree is removed as quickly as possible, as required by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Tree removal is necessary to reduce the habitat of the beetles which spread the fungus. The tree will be disposed of at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre in accordance with special handling procedures for elm wood.
What residents can do
Containing the spread of Dutch elm disease takes a community effort. There are three ways residents can help stop the spread of the disease.
1.- Do not bring firewood from another jurisdiction.
- Beetles that carry Dutch elm disease are most likely to be brought to Edmonton in firewood, so remember to always “burn it where you buy it.”
2.- Remove bark beetle habitat.
- Prune elm trees between October and March to remove dead, dying and diseased branches (video).
- Provincial law and municipal bylaw require elm tree owners to prune dead and dying branches from October through March.
- All elm wood must be disposed of immediately by burning, burying, chipping or disposal at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
- Do not combine elm wood with food scraps or other collected waste.
3.-If you see signs of Dutch elm disease, call 311.
Signs of Dutch elm disease:
- Brown staining in the sapwood that can be seen by removing the bark of infected twigs.
- From the latter half of June to the middle of July, the leaves on one or more branches may wilt, droop and curl. The leaves then turn brown and usually remain on the tree.
- If the tree is infected later in the summer, the leaves will droop, turn yellow and drop prematurely. Late season infections are easily confused with normal seasonal changes.
- Beetle emergence holes, the size of the diameter of a pencil lead, and/or sawdust on the bark, indicate burrowing beetles.
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