The city is reminding residents there is a province-wide ban on pruning elm trees between April 1 and Sept. 30.
“Pruning elm trees during this time exposes wounds that could provide entry sites for Elm Bark Beetles, a carrier of the DED (Dutch Elm Disease) fungus. Provincial regulations prohibit the storage, sale or transport of elm wood.”
The city also encourages residents to watch for symptoms of the disease on elm trees in their neighbourhoods. Trees infected last year may not leaf out this spring and from mid-June through July, they will wilt, curl and turn brown. The leaves on infected trees will also turn yellow and drop earlier than other leaves.
Residents can report elm trees displaying these symptoms to the city by contacting Lethbridge 311 or call the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease hotline: 1-877-837-ELMS (3567).