A Guide To Identifying And Treating Dutch Elm Disease (Part 2)

Dutch Elm Disease can pose a significant threat to Newark’s cherished elm trees. This devastating fungal disease can quickly spread and kill mature trees, alter the landscape, and reduce urban greenery. It’s essential to recognize the signs of the disease and implement effective treatments. This guide will help you identify symptoms and explore treatment options to preserve your trees.

Treating Dutch Elm Disease

• Dutch Elm Disease should be treated immediately to save affected trees. While there is currently no cure for Dutch Elm Disease, effective treatments can interrupt its cycle and preserve the trees. The most effective treatments include:

Removing Affected Branches

• If you have elm trees on your property in Newark, it’s crucial to monitor them for weakened, dead, or dying branches throughout the growing season. Removing these branches promptly eliminates breeding sites for elm bark beetles.

If you find affected branches while the tree is dormant, they must be removed before spring. Branches found during the growing season should be removed within 2 to 3 weeks to prevent beetles from emerging. Ensure that removed branches are destroyed by chipping, burning, or burying them to prevent further spread of the disease.

Applying Insecticide

• Insecticide applications can effectively kill elm bark beetles before they spread the disease. The timing and location of these applications depend on the type of elm bark beetle prevalent in your area.

Native Elm Bark Beetle

• Apply insecticides to the lower stems of elm trees in late summer to kill the beetles as they prepare to overwinter.

European Elm Bark Beetle

• Apply insecticides to the crown of the trees in the spring.

For best results, it is advisable to have a professional arborist in Montclair, NJ, apply insecticides to ensure proper treatment and protection of your elm trees.

Disrupting Root Grafts

• To prevent the spread of Dutch Elm Disease, disrupting root grafts between elm trees is essential. If an affected elm tree is close to a healthy one, sever the root grafts immediately. 

This should be done before removing the infected tree because the healthy tree can quickly absorb the disease from the infected roots. Additionally, sever root grafts between two healthy elm trees as a preventative measure to protect them from potential infection.

Injecting Fungicide

• When applied correctly, fungicide injections can protect elm trees from Dutch Elm Disease, though they are expensive and can pose some health risks to the tree. The treatment is most effective when administered through microinjection into the roots, allowing the fungicide to be distributed to the crown.

This process should be done every 1 to 3 seasons after the earliest leaves have fully grown. Potential negative effects include leaf scorch or loss, as well as discoloration and decay from drilling injection holes. Flushing the injection holes with water after applying the fungicide can help mitigate these issues. For best results and safety, have a professional arborist in Newark perform the fungicide injections.

Conclusion

• Protecting your elm trees from Dutch Elm Disease requires vigilant monitoring and proactive treatment. By promptly identifying the signs and hiring professionals to take appropriate measures, you can save your trees.

We can treat and prevent your trees from becoming infected and help already infected trees. At American Tree Experts, Inc., we offer the best services to keep your plants out of harm’s way. Our pest management services protect your trees from pests throughout the year. Our most sought-after services are pruning, bracing, pest, and nutritional management. We offer services in Montclair, New Jersey. Call us at (973) 744-6091 for a free quote.