Reading Time: 4 minutes Exotic animal farm loses beloved camel and pony to huge hail storm that gripped the Brooks, Alta. area as a community member starts a fundraiser to help the family recover from the financial and emotional damage.
Volunteers help exotic animal farm rebuild
Devastating hailstorm wreaks havoc at White Barn Fun Farm, including the loss of a camel and a pony
Iconic Alberta tree needs some help from cattle producers
Endangered limber pines are besieged on many fronts, including by grazing cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cattle producers in foothill country in southwestern Alberta are being asked to look out for — and help protect — the iconic but endangered limber pine. “The rugged, twisted trees usually grow on dry, rocky ridges and are thought to be some of the oldest trees in Canada,” the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada […] Read more
Elm pruning ban over until March
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s now time “to start taking the dead wood out of your elm trees,” says Janet Feddes-Calpas, executive director, Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED). The only time it is legal to prune elms in Alberta is between Oct. 1 and March 31. “This is when the elm bark beetles, responsible for spreading the […] Read more
Watch for yellow or brown leaves on elms
Reading Time: < 1 minute If elms on your property are in autumn mode already, they may be infected with Dutch elm disease (DED). “Symptoms of DED infection are leaves initially wilting followed by curling, turning yellow, and then brown,” said Janet Feddes-Calpas, executive director of the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease. “This is also referred to as flagging. […] Read more
Deadly pest marching towards Alberta’s borders
The emerald ash borer has travelled halfway across the continent and has now reached Manitoba
Reading Time: 3 minutes Another highly destructive invasive pest has breached the boundary of the eastern Prairies and Albertans are being asked to keep watch — and not unwittingly aid its spread. The emerald ash borer, which attacks and kills all species of ash, was found in Winnipeg this winter. The beetle is on a steady invasive march across […] Read more
Keep watch for insects that attack trees
There are a number of pests that harm trees, including yellow-headed spruce sawfly, spider mites, and white pine weevils
Reading Time: 2 minutes There are several insects that affect trees that you should keep an eye out for this year. “The yellow-headed spruce sawfly has been a problem for spruce the last few years, as well as spider mites,” said provincial agro-forestry specialist Toso Bozic. “White pine weevils have also been a problem for young spruce trees, as […] Read more
You’ve got more (landscaping) choices than you think
Many imported trees and shrubs can do well here and mixing them with native species adds diversity
Reading Time: 2 minutes Diverse species of trees and shrubs contribute to the health, function, and beauty of your property, says the province’s agroforestry and bioenergy specialist. “A variety of tree and shrub species can be found in Alberta’s urban and rural areas including ones that, in theory, should not be grown here at all due to our harsh […] Read more
Elm pruning ban now in place
Reading Time: < 1 minute The pruning ban for elms is now in effect. The ban is part of an effort to keep Dutch elm disease (DED) out of Alberta. Any pruned elm branches or firewood should have been burned, buried, or chipped by March 31. “If elm trees are pruned during the pruning ban period, beetles that are active […] Read more
Alberta’s most abundant tree species under threat
The reasons aren’t known for certain but the widespread loss of poplars has significant implications for farming
Reading Time: 4 minutes Have you noticed that the poplar trees in your yard and in your bush are dying? You’re not alone. Alberta is experiencing a significant dieback of one of its most abundant species, and while some landowners are skeptical of the cause, evidence points to climate change as one possible contributor. A massive poplar dieback is […] Read more
Cold weather is an ideal time for pruning diseased trees
Black knot and fire blight can be easily spread when it’s warm but not in winter
Reading Time: 2 minutes Very few people think of pruning in the dead of winter, but it’s probably the best time when it comes to trees infested with black knot and fire blight. “The beauty of winter pruning is that there are no leaves, and you will have a clear picture where to prune,” said Toso Bozic, a provincial […] Read more
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