As the lawn mower becomes more dormant, it is time to get out another garden tool if you have elm trees in your yard.
The annual ban on the pruning of elm trees ended Tuesday and elm owners are encouraged to get out their garden shears and prune dead or dying limbs in an effort to keep their trees free from the destructive Dutch elm disease (DED).
Though there are commercial pruners, City of Moose Jaw Parks Gardener Daily Lennox said it is something individuals can do on their own. The work does not end with the pruning, though.
"After you prune, take whatever branches that are lying around and dispose of them," she said.
Though the branches can be used as firewood immediately after cutting, if they are stored even for a short time they can contribute to the spread of the disease. Transporting or storing elm firewood is illegal.
"The only place it should go is the dump," said Lennox.
Improper pruning of elm trees can cause more harm than good. Thus, it is important to make the cut at the node (where two branches meet) rather than the middle of the branch.
However, care should be taken to not damage the tree's protective branch collar. Also, if pruning multiple elms, one's tools should be sterilized before moving to another tree so as not to risk transferring DED fungal spores to an uninfected tree.
As for elm trees on city property, Lennox said not all trees are pruned every year, though they are monitored. The city generally does not prune until October.
It is also coming time to band elm trees to prevent against cankerworm infestation. All elm, Manitoba maple and fruit trees should be banded.
"Just take some insulation and put it about chest height on the tree trunk. Wrap about five to six inches wide around the tree, then you can either use a garbage bag and duct tape or saran wrap. It brings in the insulation nice and tight. Then use a thin layer of automotive grease, that's enough to trap the cankerworm moths," advised Lennox.
Bands should be applied around the second or third week of September and checked weekly until late October to ensure the band is free from foreign material. The bands can stay on through the winter and be re-greased in March to catch the spring cankerworms. They should then be removed in May to ensure proper tree health.
Myles Fish can be reached at 691-1263.
