Year in Review: Melfort deals with Dutch Elm Disease

Dec 28, 2024 | 10:00 AM

The City of Melfort had a challenge on its hands again this year with the spread of Dutch Elm Disease.

After nearly 100 trees were found to have the disease last year, a study by Living Tree Environmental showed that there were 49 more diseased trees on city property in 2024, with 53 on private property.

Infected trees were marked with red ribbons to indicate they needed to be removed.

“We’re still seeing that growth and establishment of Dutch Elm Disease in new areas, and in new trees,” Director of Community Services Rob Lok told northeastNOW in August.

Lok said they hoped to be able to stop the spread of the disease and reduce the number of infected trees in the coming years.

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The city revealed toward the end of November that all the infected trees on city property had been removed, and about 90 per cent of trees on private property were also dealt with.

The disease is spread by elm bark beetles and is caused by a fungus that blocks a tree’s ability to conduct water, killing the tree. The beetles are attracted to fresh cuts on trees, resulting in an elm pruning ban from April 1 to Aug. 31 each year.

Lok hopes the work to remove the infected trees pays off for the city.

“We want to make sure we’re prepared as possible for next spring in that there (are) no remnants of the disease here in the spring to the best of our ability,” Lok said in November.

Lok said anyone who has spouts coming from the stump of a removed tree should treat them with Roundup or remove the stump entirely to prevent the disease from returning.

–

Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK

by Cam Lee

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Year in Review: Melfort deals with Dutch Elm Disease

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