Dutch Elm Disease

Dutch elm disease took hold in the 1900’s and began devastating the American Elm population that lined the once aptly named Elm Street in your home town. The American elm was perfect street tree as it is fast growing, has a beautiful shady crown, is long-lived, with good vitality in soils ranging from dense clay to sandy loam. Unfortunately, the proximity and abundance of these trees led to a fast decline in numbers once Dutch Elm Disease took hold. And those trees that remain do so at great risk of infection and loss without careful monitoring and preventative treatments.

What to look for

Flagging: The first symptoms of Dutch elm disease are often overlooked due to the position of wilting leaves on branches in the upper canopy of the tree.

Dead Branches: Affected leaves usually turn yellow, then brown, and fall prematurely, although some leaves may remain attached. Upon losing its leaves, a branch quickly dies.

Brown Spots: Trees infected late in the summer or early fall usually survive only to rapidly succumb to the infection the following year. The rate of the infection varies, but an entire tree can die within a few weeks.

Dutch Elm Disease has taken a toll on our urban forests and is still quite prolific in the Sacramento area.
Preventative treatments area available to help protect your trees. If you would like to speak with our Licensed technician about treatment options and determine if one or more of your trees is presenting signs of illness. Please call us today to schedule a free consultation and survey of your property.