By paNOW Staff

Elm tree pruning ban in effect

Apr 1, 2017 | 8:00 AM

A province wide prohibition on the pruning of elm trees comes into effect this weekend. Brian Poniatowski, forest insect and disease program specialist, said the ban helps prevent the spread of Dutch Elm disease. 

“The elm bark beetles that spread the disease are attracted to fresh pruning cuts, so this reduces the chance of the beetles being attracted to your tree,” Poniatowski said.

He explained the beetles spread the disease by bringing a fungus into the tree. That fungus stops the flow of water within the tree, Poniatowski said, and it is quickly killed.

“Dutch Elm disease is well established in the southeastern part of the province as well as the northeast around Nipawin, Choiceland, Smeaton and Tisdale,” Poniatowski said. “It has not reached Prince Albert or Melfort yet.”

Prince Albert has high numbers of elm trees and Poniatowski said the disease would be devastating since there is no cure for it; but tree losses can be minimized through the pruning ban which runs April 1 to August 31.

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Branches from any species of elm trees must be disposed of at the landfill where it has to either be buried or burned.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow