Alberta’s elm pruning ban starts April 1. To prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease, burn, bury or properly chip pruned elm wood and elm firewood by March 31.

The Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED) encourages everyone to pay attention to the provincial elm pruning ban, which will be in place until Sept. 30.

Stored elm wood can harbour beetles while pruning when the pests are active spreads the deadly DED fungus because they “can be attracted to the scent of the fresh wound and possibly infect an otherwise healthy elm with DED,” said Janet Feddes-Calpas, STOPDED executive director. “Once an elm tree is infected with DED, it will die within that year.”