Preventive steps

  • Take preventative measures by keeping your elm trees healthy, vigorous and properly pruned.
  • Elms should be well watered from April to mid August. To allow the tree to harden off for the winter, watering should be stopped mid August followed by a good soaking or two before freeze-up.
  • Dead branches and trees that provide beetle habitat should be removed. Since elm bark beetles are attracted to fresh tree wounds, pruning should be done between October 1 to March 31 when the beetles are not in their active stage.
  • Dispose of all elm wood you have by taking it to your local landfill or by burning, burying or chipping it. Chips should be no greater than 2.5 cm (1 inch). Elm wood provides ideal breeding sites for the tiny elm bark beetle that spreads Dutch elm disease.
  • Learn how to identify the signs of Dutch elm disease and beetle activity so that you can report them to the nearest DED Hotline to your community.
  • Become a STOPDED member.

Do's and Don'ts

Do

  • Public must be aware about DED and its symptoms.
  • Infected trees need to be reported immediately.
  • Elm wood must be burned, buried or chipped immediately. Chips should be no greater than 2.5cm (1 inch).
  • Keep elm trees healthy by keeping trees well watered.
  • Prune dead wood from your elm trees between October 1st and March 31st.

Do Not

  • bring elm firewood or logs into Alberta. It may be carrying the elm bark beetles and the fungus.
  • Do not transport or store elm wood within Alberta. Stored firewood provides a perfect breeding area for the elm bark beetles.
  • Avoid pruning elms between April 1st and September 30th. Elm bark beetles are active between these dates and are attracted to fresh wounds.

Resources

Contact

For information about STOPDED or Dutch elm disease:
Phone: 1-877-837-elms (3567) (STOPDED Hotline)
Email: stopded@shaw.ca