Elm tree pruning ban begins today

By Jensen, Randy on April 1, 2020.

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

To prevent the spread of Dutch Elm Disease (DED), a province-wide pruning ban for all species of elm trees will be in effect from today to Sept. 30. Pruning elm trees during this time period creates wounds that could provide entry sites for elm bark beetles, a carrier of the DED fungus, according to a release from the City of Lethbridge.

Provincial regulations prohibit the storage, sale, or transport of elm wood. For more information on DED visit http://www.stopded.org.

Watch for symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease on elm trees in your neighbourhood. Elm trees infected last season may not leaf out this spring. From mid-June through July the leaves on infected trees will wilt, curl up and turn brown. Leaves on trees infected late in the season will turn yellow and drop prematurely.

Report elm trees displaying these symptoms to the City of Lethbridge by calling 311 or the provincial hotline: 1-877-837-ELMS (3567).

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