Reading Time: < 1 minute The annual elm-pruning ban is over until March 31, so it’s time to remove dead wood that can attract elm bark beetles, says the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED). The beetles breed and overwinter in dead and dying elms but trees can’t be pruned between April 1 and Sept. 30 because the pests […] Read more
Time to get the dead wood out
Keep watch for these tree-attacking insects
Provincial woodlot management specialist offers tips for controlling pests and improving tree health
Reading Time: 2 minutes When it comes to trees, there are a few different insects to 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 woodlot management specialist Toso Bozic. “White pine weevil has also been a problem for young […] Read more
Annual elm pruning ban now in place
Reading Time: < 1 minute The ban on pruning elms is now in place until Sept. 30. All pruned wood and firewood from elms should now have been disposed of, either by burning, burying or chipping. Stored elm wood can harbour the elm bark beetles that can carry DED. “If elm trees are pruned during the pruning ban period, these […] Read more
What makes the best firewood?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Pound for pound, what is the best firewood? Actually, they’re all the same. “The main variation between different species is the tree density, which means they have different calorific values (amounts of heat) per volume of wood,” said bioenergy/agroforestry specialist Toso Bozic. “A cubic foot of air-dried white birch weighs about 16 kilograms, while the […] Read more
Tree pruning is a good thing when done properly
Reading Time: < 1 minute When done properly, pruning will produce strong, healthy, and attractive trees. “However, before pruning a tree, you need to understand why, when, and how to prune,” said Janet Feddes-Calpas, Stop Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED) co-ordinator. Rule No. 1 is don’t top a tree. “Topping is the practice of removing large branches and tops of trees […] Read more
Thinking of buying a sawmill?
Kerf, daily production, and whether you want to saw lumber at the harvesting site are some of the key factors
Reading Time: 2 minutes Woodlot and acreage owners wanting some lumber cut can either pay someone to custom mill their trees or buy a sawmill and do it themselves. “If it’s the latter, there are several things to consider before buying,” said provincial bioenergy/agroforestry specialist Toso Bozic. “These include the size of your operation, the sawmill type you buy, […] Read more
Elm pruning ban over until March
Pruning elms to keep them healthy is essential to keeping Dutch elm disease out of the province
Reading Time: < 1 minute The annual elm-pruning ban in Alberta has been lifted until March 31. “It’s time to start taking the dead wood out of your elm trees,” said Janet Feddes-Calpas, executive director, Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED). “To help eliminate elm bark beetle habitat, elm sanitation is essential to an integrated Dutch elm disease (DED) […] Read more
This tree is also a noxious weed
Reading Time: < 1 minute Common buckthorn, otherwise known as European buckthorn, has been found in two locations in Alberta — in Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River and in Stettler County. It was originally brought to North America from Eurasia as an ornamental, but soon spread throughout the continent. High seed production and excellent tolerance to Canada’s climate allow […] Read more
Expert offers some tips for planting trees in the fall
Take a look in town for different species that can survive Alberta winters
Reading Time: 2 minutes You can plant trees in spring, but fall planting has its advantages because there is more moisture in the soil and higher humidity. “This gives the root system a better chance to get established so it can be ready to get growing earlier in spring,” said provincial agroforestry specialist Toso Bozic. In early spring, the […] Read more
Elm pruning ban in effect until October
Reading Time: < 1 minute 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 […] Read more
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