Dutch Elm Disease

This week we have made a start to felling the six Elm trees that have been identified as being diseased with Dutch elm disease.

Each year Edinburgh Council surveys the whole city for diseased elms so that they can be removed in order to prevent the spread of the disease and minimise risks to public safety.

Elm Tree Identified For Felling

Like many fungal diseases the fungus only attacks the vascular cells, infecting and eventually blocking them, this prevents water movement to the crown of the tree, causing wilt, dieback and ultimately death.

Unlike the grass plant where the fungus is spread by the wind, grass cutting machinery and golfers, on Elm trees it is spread by Bark Beetles.

Unfortunately, the only way to prevent further spread of the disease is to fell the diseased tree and burn the infected wood and bark. 

Dutch Elm Affected Tree

This winter we will replant with a mixture of Oak and Beech trees as we have been advised that we should not replant with native elms, as they will almost inevitably succumb to Dutch elm disease as well.