How to keep beetles from wrecking your shade: elm tree pruning ban takes effect April 1

No offense to elm bark beetles, but they’re the worst.

They’re tiny. They’re rude. They’re basically like mosquitoes for trees. Talk about a summer fun killer.

Elm bark beetles hatch in weak or sick elms and pick up Dutch Elm Disease (DED) fungus as they grow. The issue arises when they fly to another tree. They take a bite and deliver the fungus. One tiny nibble, and suddenly a perfectly fine tree is fighting for its life.

The good news is: we can all stop this dead (DED?) in its tracks.

There is a full elm tree pruning ban from April 1 to September 30, 2026. The province also says no storing, selling or transporting elm wood during this time. Basically: if it’s elm, leave it alone.

Another piece of good news: elms are pretty good at sending distress signals. Keep an eye on the elms in your neighbourhood. If a tree was infected last year, it might not leaf out at all this spring. The more classic symptoms begin to appear in June: wilting, curling and browning leaves. If the infection begins closer to July, the leaves turn yellow and fall early, like the tree decided summer just wasn’t worth the effort.

If you spot a struggling elm, contact Lethbridge 311 or call the STOPDED hotline at 1877-837-ELMS (3567). A quick report from you could save a whole lot of shade for the rest of us.

For Public Inquiries:
Call or chat 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.