Two new cases of Dutch elm disease confirmed in Edmonton |
July 14, 2026
The City of Edmonton has confirmed one elm tree in both the Northmount and Rossdale neighbourhoods has tested positive for Dutch elm disease (DED). These two trees mark the eighth and ninth cases of Dutch elm disease confirmed in Edmonton since it was first detected in 2024.
“These cases were identified by our integrated team of arborists, urban foresters and pest management biologists as they continue intensified surveillance and testing of elm trees across the city. We continue removals, daily assessments and testing in coordination with the province and Canadian Food Inspection Agency,” said Nicole Fraser, Acting Director, Parks and Urban Forestry.
The two trees were in decline and proactively removed as part of the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the deadly fungal disease. Prompt tree removal is essential to maintain the health and safety of the urban forest.
Both trees were on City property. One of the trees was in the established DED Protocol Zone in the Northmount neighbourhood. The other tree was located in the Rossdale neighbourhood. The Protocol Zone has been expanded to include a one-kilometre radius around both locations. These Zones are established in areas where DED has been confirmed to allow for heightened monitoring, assessments and tree maintenance.
Dutch elm disease is a contagious fungal infection that spreads easily to nearby elms. The disease poses a significant threat to Edmonton's urban forest, where elm trees make up 22 per cent of the City’s Open Space and Boulevard Tree Inventory, or approximately 90,000 in total.
Promptly removing infected trees and any elms within 20 meters of them, alongside a diligent pruning program to clear deadwood, is necessary to reduce habitats for the beetles that spread the fungus.
All pruned elm wood is disposed of at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, following strict, specialized handling procedures.
What residents can do
Containing the spread of Dutch elm disease is a community effort. There are three ways residents can help stop the spread of the disease:
1. Do not move firewood.
- If you go camping or travel, do not transport firewood. Beetles that spread Dutch elm disease are commonly introduced to Edmonton through firewood, so always “burn it where you buy it.”
2. Remove bark beetle habitat.
- Follow provincial pruning ban guidelines. Residents can only prune dead, dying and diseased elm tree branches from October 1 to March 31.
- Dispose of elm wood immediately by burning it or taking it to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
- Do not combine elm wood with food scraps or other collected waste.
3. If you see the following signs of Dutch elm disease, call 311.
- From June to July, leaves on one or more branches of an infected elm tree may wilt, droop and curl. Infected leaves usually turn brown and stay on the tree.
- Elm trees infected later in the summer will have leaves that droop, turn yellow and drop prematurely. It is easy to confuse these late-season infections with normal seasonal colour changes.
- Peeling back the bark on infected twigs reveals brown staining in the sapwood.
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For more information:
Media contact:
Michael Steger
Senior Communications Advisor
City Operations
780-220-4458
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