The City of Weyburn Parks department is preparing for its yearly Dutch Elm Disease maintenance and control program. Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is an incurable fungal disease spread by the elm bark beetle that kills any elm tree it infects.
The 2021 program includes pest management through pesticide spraying of elms within certain areas of the city:
First Avenue South to 10th Avenue South; Government Road to Confederation Drive NW; First Ave. NW to Third Ave. NW; Scott Crescent to Elgin Street; Saskatchewan Drive; First Ave. N to Fifth Ave. N; Fifth Street to King Street; First Ave. NE to Eaglesham Avenue; and 16th Street to Dieppe Drive.
The City of Weyburn will notify impacted residents that city-owned elms located near their property will be treated by basal spraying. Residents also have the opportunity to authorize City Parks staff property access to treat privately owned elms.
Residents who are unsure if they have elm trees on their property (and live within the neighbourhoods noted above) can apply for the free program to authorize Parks staff to inspect and treat your trees, if identified as elms.
Homeowners can apply for the basal spraying program online at the City website (https://weyburn.ca/dutch-elm-disease-control-program/application-form/) or contact the Parks department for more information by email at ded@weyburn.ca or 306.848.3290. The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 17 for the 2021 control program.
The City of Weyburn encourages residents to apply for the program and authorize the spraying of privately owned elm trees; there is no cure for DED and trees must be treated to prevent further spread of the elm bark beetle. All found DED infected trees in 2021 have been removed and disposed of, and the Parks department is continuing maintenance to ensure the disease does not spread.
One of the most important ways to help prevent the spread of DED is to avoid the illegal practice of transporting, storing and using elm firewood.
As of September 1, the annual provincial ban on pruning elm trees has been lifted for the fall season. Keeping elms healthy by pruning dead or dying branches helps prevent the spread of DED. Elm wood should be promptly disposed of at the landfill.
