City's Dutch Elm Disease Program

The City of Regina follows an integrated Dutch Elm Disease (DED) management program to prevent Dutch Elm Disease from spreading throughout the city and limit the number of local trees lost to this disease.

So far, the City removed about 62 trees infected with DED between 1981 to 2009. No area of the city has escaped; therefore all elm trees are at risk.

Step 1 – Monitoring and Surveillance

City workers systematically inspect all City-owned and private trees once every 2 weeks for wilting or yellow leaves on one or more branches on a tree. If a tree looks suspect, staff take samples and submit them for laboratory culturing to see if the tree has the DED fungus.

Step 2 - Pruning and Sanitation

The City immediately cuts down and burns all wood from elm trees with confirmed DED infection. Under this program the City also prunes deadwood from City elm trees and remove hazardous trees after the pruning ban is lifted (Provincial legislation imposes a pruning ban between April 1 and August 31 every year.)

Step 3 - Infill Planting

Each spring and fall, City crews plant other tree species in locations where elm trees have been removed due to age, damage, or disease.

Step 4 - Elm Bark Beetle Spraying

The City monitors elm bark beetle populations through the use of pheromone traps. Spraying occurs in areas with higher beetle populations. The basal spraying occurs in the spring and fall as the beetles emerge from or enter at the base of the tree to overwinter.

If the City is spraying in your area, you will receive a pre-spraying notice. If you have chemical sensitivities, you can call the Pesticide Advisory Line for information on where and when the City is spraying today and tomorrow.

Step 5 - Firewood Inspections and Collections

Elm firewood is ideal for elm bark beetles to lay eggs. Provincial DED regulations state you cannot "store, use, market or transport any elm tree for use as fuel wood or any other purpose."

If the City finds elm wood on your property, workers will leave a letter advising you to dispose of the firewood. If you don’t remove the firewood, the City will collect it and destroy it.

The City’s Pest Management Office will help you to identify elm firewood or investigate reports of suspected elm firewood on private property.

Step 6 - Public Awareness

The City educates residents about DED through media interviews, radio, television and print advertising as well as brochures, fridge magnets, and tree ribbons. The City also placed signage at all City entrances advising motorists to the danger of transporting elm firewood.

Step 7 - Research

Research allows Pest Management to keep in touch with the latest developments and assists in directing efforts towards issues relating to our climate/zone. The City participated in the following research projects: University of Toronto genetic research, GIS/GPS DED detection utilizing satellite imagery and bark beetle life cycle.