It’s soon time of the year for yard clean up and deadfall removal. If that includes some limb trimming, then it’s important to remember that the ban on pruning elm trees is soon on once again in the province. The ban, in place to help stop the spread of Dutch elm disease, runs from April 1 until August 31.
The disease can easily kill elm trees and has been responsible to the removal of swaths of elm in urban centres and parks in the past. Its cause is a fungus spread by elm bark beetles which become active once the weather warms up. Pruning during their active season produces fresh cuts through which the infection can be introduced.
A release from the Ministry of Environment advises that pruning trees before or after the ban period helps keep them healthy and better able to resist all kinds of diseases, including DED. Pruning also removes the dead and dying wood where elm bark beetles breed, reducing beetle numbers.
Elm trees can be completely removed during the ban period, but the fallen wood must be disposed of properly as soon as possible. Contact your local municipality to find out where the designated wood disposal site is in your area.
It’s also important to note that it is illegal to use, transport or store elm wood as firewood. Provincial regulations also restrict the use, transport, storage and sale of elm logs.
For more information, contact your municipality, the Ministry of Environment's Inquiry Centre at 1-800-567-4224 or visit: saskatchewan.ca/forestry.