Prevention of Dutch elm disease starts by keeping elm trees healthy. Prune all dead wood that provides beetle habitat. Pruning of healthy elms, however, should only be done during the winter season when the beetles which are attracted to fresh tree wounds are not active, October 1 to March 31.
According to Edmonton's Community Standards Bylaw 14600 it is illegal to prune elms between April 1 to September 30.
Elms that suffer major injury such as a lightning strike or storm damage during the summer may be pruned, but branches must be chipped, burned or buried promptly. A City inspector may also approve limited clearance pruning to mitigate electrical hazards or to avoid construction damage. Written permission must be obtained prior to any elm pruning performed during the elm pruning ban from April 1 to Sept 30, by contacting the City at 311 or reporting online.
Stored or pruned elm wood is one of the highest risk pathways for spreading the disease.
For citizens who need help with pruning, the City recommends using professional arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Elm trees may be removed any time of year, however, all wood must be properly disposed of and cannot be kept as firewood. Elm stumps should be de-barked or ground to a depth of 10 cm (4 inches) below soil level.
Remember, Edmonton bylaw prohibits the storage of any elm wood that you may have pruned.