help w DED

[Daniel]

I was working on a neighborhood I worked in years ago.. Checking out some of the trees I worked on... There were three nice sized elms with beautiful canopies in the front yard of two houses.. Both old customers', but both sold to new owners.. Fresh cuts on the elm, some large.. Looked like they were made in the last two months, which new owner confirmed. One large limb, with the biggest wound is already showing signs of DED... CLEAR signs with the tips nearly half wilted.. Looks like all three have root grafts. ANd there is another fresh kill DED elm in the neighbor's front yard three doors down.

I took a few photos, then gave a card to one of the new owners.. I don't do PHC.. is there anything that can be done preventatively for these trees.. I know they are all gonna die if nothing gets done. Can injections be made this time of year.. Any chance of saving the one that is showing signs of existing infection..

Can the tree service that did the pruning be held responsible for the damage? Guy wouldn't tell me who did it..

Thanks

 

[Tom Dunlap]

NO use trying to hang responsibility on the other cutter for DED. Maybe for taking money and not doing a good job...but that's another issue.

Rainbow TreeCare, their commercial side, used to do therapeutic pruning years ago. They had pretty good success but I don't think that they would ever guarantee the success or refund injection costs. Too big a gamble.

 

[rfwoodvt]

There are some injectable fungicides that can help delay or minimize infection. Prune out the diseased limbs and apply the fungicide according to the label.

Timing of pruning can be important too to avoide transmission and beetle activity.

 

[RGus]

There is a chance to save the uninfected trees, and possibly the slightly infected tree. You can prune out the flaging branches and check for streaking in the sapwood. If the streaking has stopped before reaching a major branch or stem there is a chance to save the tree, along with a fungicide injection.

Right now is the time to be injecting fungicide. I would recommend having the nearby elms injected at the least.

 

[oldoakman]

Pruning out flagged leads can only work on beetle infected trees. If they are infected through root grafts, it is doubtful they can be saved, and if allowed to stand, they will become nurseries for the next generation of beetles. If it is a beetle inncoulation and you prune out the lead, you have to remember that the DED fungus can move as much as 8 meters per say through the xylem, so even though you may not see streaking, there may be infection below your final cut.

 

[Daniel]

Thanks for the good info..