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The provincial ban on pruning elm trees goes into effect across Saskatchewan on Wednesday and runs until August 31.
The annual ban takes effect after cases of Dutch elm disease reached a record in Saskatoon last season. Dutch elm is a severe fungal infection mainly spread through elm bark beetles. The disease blocks an elm tree’s ability to move water and nutrients, and most elms die once they have become infected.
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According to the City of Saskatoon, one in every four trees in Saskatoon is an elm and therefore threatened by the disease.
Robin Adair, owner of Arbour Crest Tree Services, said elm trees are “almost impossible” to prune out of season in any case, because the sap coats saw blades. He said the ban on pruning in the summer months helps keep the beetles at bay.
“When you prune an elm out of season, so within the summer, it kind of releases a pheromone to the beetle to say, ‘Hey, I can smell an elm tree,’” Adair said.
Adair said elms are planted together in a row in a number of areas in Saskatoon, including City Park and Spadina Crescent.
“It’s all one row of elms down the street, which is what makes Saskatoon beautiful, but that’s not great when you’re trying to battle Dutch elm disease, because the fungus can transfer through the root through grafting,” he said.
The City of Saskatoon also reminded residents that it is illegal to store, transport or use elm wood for any purpose, and the only permitted movement of the wood is to the city landfill, where it can be disposed of for free.
Adair said residents might notice healthy elm trees that appear to turn brown and wilt during the summer months, which is a sign of Dutch elm disease and should be reported to the city immediately.
Adair said he is planning to lobby both the city and the University of Saskatchewan to speed up the process of testing for the disease. When a sample is collected, Adair said it is delivered to Regina for a testing process that can take up to two weeks.
“It’s just taken way too long, and the province is not keeping up with what’s going to happen here,” Adair said.
Adair reminded homeowners to keep their trees watered, and suggested hiring a certified arborist to prune trees in the winter to get rid of dead wood. He said residents can also contact an arborist for a fungicide treatment, which can be injected into an elm tree to protect it from Dutch elm disease for up to three years.
The city said pruning elm trees during the provincial ban requires a permit, and residents looking for more information can contact the city directly.
“By following the provincial regulations and maintaining elm trees on private property, residents can help slow the spread of (Dutch elm disease) in Saskatoon,” the city said in a statement.
