The Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED) is reminding Albertans the provincial elm pruning ban remains in effect until Sept. 30.
Under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act, it is illegal to prune elm trees during this time or store elm wood. Stored elm wood can harbour the elm bark beetles that can carry DED and must be disposed of by burning, burying or chipping.
Elm bark beetles are active at this time of year and can be attracted to the scent of the fresh wound when elms are pruned. That can result in an otherwise healthy elm becoming infected. Once infected, the tree will die within that year.
