By Tyler Marr

Dutch Elm Disease continues to be budding issue for provinces’ northeast

Jul 30, 2017 | 4:30 PM

Dutch Elm Disease remains a pesky and costly problem for sections of the province, according to the Ministry of Environment, who said areas around Nipawin continue to be plagued by the fungus.

“It has pretty much decimated all of the elms in the Nipawin area,” Colin Arndt, an insect and disease program specialist said. “Even in Tisdale, they are starting to struggle with it now as it spreads in that area.”

The disease clogs water conducting tissue in the tree and prevents water from getting to the leaves, ultimately killing the tree.

To help mitigate a trees chance of acquiring the disease, Arndt recommended people keep their elms pruned, but to do so outside of the annual pruning ban that runs from April 1 to Aug. 31. This is when the elm bark beetle, which transports the fungus, is most active. The incest uses dead branches to breed. 

Another way to prevent passing the disease is to be on alert for the symptoms. Once a tree is infected, its leaves will wilt, turn yellow then brown and crispy before falling fall off. 

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If people fear their elms may be infected, Arndt urged them to contact their municipality to come by and take a sample of the bark. Owners can also send a sample to a lab in Regina that performs tests for free.

However, if a tree does catch Dutch Elm Disease, the only remedy is to take it down as there is no cure.

“The longer you leave a diseased tree standing, the more it can spread,” Arndt said, noting the cost to remove trees can quickly add up if multiple are infected. 

This can become an issue for municipalities as American Elms are commonly used in urban planning as they are aesthetically pleasing and provide ample shade in the summer.

However, residents should not be overly fearful as Arndt said the City of Prince Albert has never had a confirmed case of Dutch Elm Disease in the city. He also made note it is illegal to use elm wood for anything and said people should immediately transport dead branches or trees for disposal at landfills.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr