Dutch Elm Disease is a fungal infection spread via beetles and roots. The fungus produces pheromones that attract the Elm Bark Beetle. These beetles feed on small twigs and areas where branches meet, called unions.
Dutch Elm Disease can kill a tree in three to six weeks. This is why treatment and removal are so important.
Dutch Elm Disease Identification
Dutch Elm Disease is visible on the leaves and the bark of elm trees. Leaves may wilt, turn yellow, then brown and shrivel, but stay on the tree. DED symptoms can also be seen under the bark of infected branches. Underneath the bark, the sapwood of diseased trees is stained. If the staining goes all the way to the trunk, the tree is going to die.
If an inspector condemns your tree…
When someone marks your elm tree with an orange paint ring, this means that an inspector has condemned it. Generally, if an inspector finds a diseased tree, it’s past the point of treatment.
Tree inspectors start looking for Dutch Elm Disease in late May to early June. This sometimes changes depending on the type of season we’re having in Minnesota. Usually, inspectors wait until trees are fully leafed out. This year, we had a late spring, so the inspections are happening right now.
Inspectors don’t always find Dutch Elm Disease on private property. In Minneapolis, the Park Board Forestry Department sends inspectors out to both public and private property. The city of Saint Paul’s Forestry Department doesn’t venture onto private residences.
Generally, a condemned tree must be removed in three weeks. Depending on what city you live in, you have a few options.
If you happen to identify Dutch Elm Disease on your trees…
Some homeowners catch DED before it’s taken its toll on their trees. If you identify it yourself, the next step is to remove the tree. DED-infected trees must be removed and completely destroyed. Once the tree is removed, the debris must be destroyed so that surrounding trees don’t get infected.
Comparing removal bids
If an inspector condemns your elm tree, you likely have three weeks to remove the tree. While it seems unfair, trees on private property are the homeowners responsibility.
In Minneapolis, the city will collect bids for you and allow you to select a contractor. In some cases, the city will also provide financing options. Depending on the situation, that may include an interest-free payment plan or adding the cost to your property taxes.
For many homeowners, the three-week deadline can be a source of frustration and stress. But, due to contractor constraints, oftentimes the city allows for deadline extensions.
If you live outside of the Twin Cities, most suburbs follow the same steps as Minneapolis.
What if you don’t have the money for a tree removal service?
For those that don’t have the money for the removal, there are other financing options.
In some cases, the city may grant a mechanics lien on your property so you don’t pay anything until you sell your house. This is a common solution for those on fixed incomes.
These options are available because of the results of Minneapolis’ response to DED years ago. While Saint Paul allowed homeowners to remove trees at their discretion, Minneapolis took an aggressive approach and was able to save a lot of elm trees. So, now Minneapolis provides funds to remove diseased trees before they infect others.
Dutch Elm Disease treatment vs removal
If the tree has at least ten feet of unstained sapwood, then treatment is an option. Sometimes, if the homeowner wants to save the diseased tree, the city will help with treatment. Treatment consists of a fungicide and pruning. Because of the rapid progression of the disease, treatment must happen immediately.
Most of the time, a flare-root macro-injection with propiconazole is very effective. Two to three weeks after the injection, the infected branch(es) are pruned. Arborists will inspect the cut ends for signs of staining, as well as windows cut in bark to inspect. A final cut will be made at least five feet inward from the observed staining. If the staining has spread into the trunk, the tree won’t survive.
Proper injection technique is crucial for the distribution of chemicals throughout the canopy. Inaccurate dosing can sometimes cause severe phytotoxicity, which often looks like DED. Trees can recover from severe foliage loss, but will suffer from stress.
Unfortunately, treatment isn’t always an option. It doesn’t protect against root transmission, which is often how DED spreads.
The treatment is also hard on trees. If you treat a drought-stressed tree, the fungicide can act like a herbicide and kill the tree.
Local, expert arborists
If an inspector condemned one of your trees, contact Vineland for a free consultation. Along with our Certified Arborists, we have two Board Certified Master Arborists and one Certified Treecare Safety Professional on staff. So, you can trust us to provide the highest level of expertise and professionalism.
