Prune Elms- How late in spring in western WA?

southsoundtree

southsoundtree

Been here much more than a while
Location
Olympia, WA
I have a couple of elms, species unknown, that could use some work.

How late is it reasonable to prune these in Olympia, or how soon until I can in the fall or winter?

Anyone have info on the beetle that transmits the fungus that causes DED.

Also, anyone know of a resource so that I can ID which species?

Thanks.
 
Is there DED out that far west? I thought that there were portions of the west that did not have it yet?
The Elm Bark Beetle carries the disease. As far as ID post a picture on here and you'll get someone to ID it right away, or there are some great sites on the web. Google the Genus and the specific epithet of the what you think it might be (start with American elm, Ulmus americana). American Elm is the most susceptible.
As far as the time of year, I would check with some other arborists or pest experts in your specific area. For me in Northern MN I can go until Mid-April. But for you it may already be too late. For me, I stop about 2 weeks before the first trees start to bud out. As for starting to prune in the fall, for us, the beetles life cycle has ended by August. But I usually wait until September, just to be safe.
This is what I know to be true and I hope it helps.
 
Thanks Sam.

I'm without my camera as of now. Disappeared one day while working, somehow. I always tell my crew to always, always stage everything in one place. It takes a bit longer, but then I don't have to go buy new stuff. Hopefully, soon I'll have a new one.



I believe that DED has been found in Buckley, WA, which is in the Puget Sound watershed, as is Olympia.

I figured that it was too late this year. Just didn't get to it over the winter. I'm looking into a dry day in the fall.
 
I bid on a job in Maple Vally a few years back and the elms there had died from DED. I think there were 12 of them. I checked with the department of agg to see if there were any regulations in this state about disposial of chips and wood.
They were happy that I call but there are not any regs in this state.
 
DED is in Olympia.
A tree at the end of Pear street died from it when I lived and worked there 5+ years ago. The large elm still standing at Sylvester Park in downtown Oly was injected at least once to prevent DED and I know I have seen flagging in that tree.

If you use Degree Days to determine insect activity Elm Bark Beetles are active from 7-120 degree days.
 
One school of thought is that there is a phenomenal draw of the bark beetles(that carry the fungus that causes DED)to freshly cut wood.

This would leave the pruning best done while both the tree and the insects are DORMANT! We do most of our elm pruning in the fall after leaf drop! BUT we are regulated by an Elm pruning ban (April 1 to August 31). These dates supposedly took into account the activity of the Elm bark beetle.
 
I honestly love this damn website.

Thanks for all of the knowledge guys. I like the fact that I have actual experts in my back pocket everyday to ask questions (iPhone is a good to for reference)
 
That sounds right. The dates will change the further south you go. I seem to recall that in the lower 48 pruning after June was OK. I'm a little rusty on it so I would want to double check that.
 
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