(Adrian St.Onge/CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

Elm trees at risk for Dutch Elm Disease, pruning recommended before April 1

Mar 25, 2024 | 1:21 PM

While pruning elm trees is something that is necessary, Medicine Hat arborists are recommending people finish their pruning before April 1.

The City of Medicine Hat prohibits pruning of elm trees between April 1 and Oct. 1 as there is a significantly higher risk of trees being exposed to Dutch Elm Disease.

Medicine Hat is home to over 10,000 private and public elm trees.

Arborist Craig Renney said that Dutch Elm Disease has been found in Lethbridge and Southern Saskatchewan in recent years, but was dealt with handedly.

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“I think the number one priority still remains Dutch Elm Disease,” Renney said.

“It’d be catastrophic, if Dutch Elm Disease was going to hit a place like Medicine Hat aggressively, you could imagine like all the trees behind us [at Big Marble Go Centre] and the trees running First Street,” he said.

“All of the boulevard trees in the city for the most part would be gone,” Renney added.

“It makes a very, very uncomfortable environment to live in when there’s no trees.”

The fungus is carries by beetles who are attracted to the scent emitted when pruning.

While the province touts the worlds largest disease free elm population in the world, the disease can be severely damaging, clogging the trees water conducting system and killing the tree.

Once a tree is infected, it’s too late and should be uprooted and destroyed immediately.

Renney said that pesticides are ineffective against the beetles and said that community members trying to do their own pruning on the larger trees should be extremely cautious.