Elm Pruning Ban is over until March 31 in Alberta
By Janet Feddes-Calpas, Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease Executive Director
2026
Elm sanitation such as removal and proper disposal of dead wood and dead elms is essential to an integrated Dutch Elm Disease (DED) prevention program. The only time it is legal to prune elms in Alberta is between October 1 to March 31. This is when the elm bark beetles, responsible for spreading the deadly DED fungus, are not active.
Elm bark beetles feed on healthy elms and breed and over winter in dead and dying elm trees. If elm trees are pruned between April 1 and September 30, these vectors of the disease will be drawn to the scent of the fresh pruning cuts, potentially attracting beetles infested with the DED fungus and infecting your otherwise healthy elm.
Having your tree pruned properly is important. A professional arborist can determine what type of pruning is necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance and safety of your trees. Topping or removing an excessive amount of live wood is not recommended, will weaken the tree’s structure and shorten its lifespan. It is essential that all dead elm wood be removed and properly disposed of by burning, burying or chipping by March 31. It is also illegal to store elm firewood.
Alberta is still free of DED although the City of Edmonton confirmed 18th cases of DED since it was first detected in 2024. All infected trees were immediately removed and disposed of as per the Government of Alberta’s DED Prevention and Control Measures which are enforceable under the Agricultural Pests Act. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was also involved. All elm wood was disposed of at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, following strict, specialized handling procedures.
Elm tree inspections are still ongoing in Edmonton. To date, their Pest Lab completed 193,016 visual inspections of elms. STOPDED contracted Living Tree Environmental Ltd. to conduct a cost share comprehensive DED survey in Redwater, Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc and Morinville in 2026 and St. Albert, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Beaumont, and Sherwood Park in 2025. No DED was found.
There is no cure once an elm is infected but DED can be prevented. We must stay vigilant to keep our elms healthy.
For more information on how to prevent DED call the STOPDED hotline at 1-877-837-ELMS or check out the web site at www.stopded.org.
We must stay vigilant to keep our elms healthy. DED can be prevented.
https://www.alberta.ca/society-to-prevent-dutch-elm-disease.aspx