News Centre

Throughout August, residents are asked to check their trees for signs of invasive species or disease, especially Dutch Elm Disease (DED.) August is the time of year when physical signs of disease are most obvious and it is critical to diagnose and act quickly. Typical symptoms of DED include yellow, droopy leaves, leaves that fall off prematurely, and succulent branches on the stem that wilt and turn brown.

Urban Forestry Technician, Lindsay Bell says," Examining our local trees helps us to identify signs of disease early, and may help to stop the spread. With nearly 50,000 trees in our urban forest, having residents report what they're seeing is incredibly helpful to our team and cannot be underestimated."

Residents are asked to check local parks, gardens, backyards and vehicles for any unwelcome pests or signs of disease and to contact 311 if they come across anything suspicious. Bell says, "With the heat, we have been experiencing this summer our urban forest is under tremendous stress. It is critical that we address trees that are potentially infected and take action as soon as possible."

Residents are reminded to keep their trees watered and healthy as stressed trees are more susceptible to disease and to not transport firewood back from camping trips.

For further information on the signs of Dutch Elm Disease, visit our website or www.stopded.org