Elm Tree Pruning Until The End Of March

The City of Moose Jaw would like to remind residents they only have until March 31st to trim their privately owned elm trees. After that, until August 31st it is illegal to trim any species (variety) of elm tree until August 31st.

The ban is is place to prevent attracting Native Elm Bark Beetles who are active and attracted to the pruning wounds during this time. The elm bark beetles carry the fungus that causes Dutch Elm Disease which when it infects a tree means the tree will die. The Dutch Elm Disease fungus sticks to the beetle and is spread from tree to tree while the beetle feeds.

The fungus infects the elm tree and blocks the conductive tissue of the tree. Blocking the flow of nutrients and water to the tree, thereby killing the tree. It can destroy a tree in as little as 3 weeks or take as long as 3 years.

The beetles fly from elm tree to elm tree By flying from tree to tree delivering spores of the fungus in a very effective manner.

Infected trees must be removed in order to prevent the spread to other nearby trees. The cost of removal of infected trees is borne by the property owner - if you have an elm tree on your property and it becomes infected it is your financial responsibility to remove the tree and take all of the tree to the landfill for proper disposal.

A permit is required from the City and then the infected would is immediately buried to prevent any further spread.

“The City of Moose Jaw had 35 positive cases of Dutch Elm Disease in 2020, resulting in the removal of approximately 70 trees.” Sarah Regent, City Horticulturalist for the City of Moose Jaw said in a statement. “Elms are some of the most valuable trees in our city and you can help protect our elm tree population by pruning out deadwood before the pruning ban takes effect and promptly disposing of all elm wood.”

Under Saskatchewan law elm wood cannot be used as firewood but it must be properly disposed of.

For more information about Moose Jaw’s urban forest check out the link.