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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Forester seeks help to prevent Dutch elm
Edina, Minn., July 19, 2004 – Edina residents should watch for elm trees with yellowing, browning and
curling leaves, which may also fall to the ground. These are symptoms of Dutch elm disease, an
infection that can destroy elm trees if not taken care of immediately.
Dutch elm disease is caused by a fungus and can be spread by two species of elm bark beetles
or root grafting. If the tree is infected by the European elm bark beetle, treatment is more likely to
be successful. However, if the infection is due to the native elm bark beetle or root grafting, the
disease is more difficult to remedy. If residents see the symptoms, they should contact City
Forester Tom Horwath for an inspection.
Residents can also attempt to prevent the spread of the disease by injecting fungicide into the
tree. To find qualified tree care professionals who can perform such preventative services,
residents may look in the yellow pages under “trees.”
For the past three summers, Edina has been experiencing an increase in the incidence of Dutch
elm disease, according to Horwath. Last year, the number of elms condemned for Dutch elm
disease doubled from the previous year, and will likely double again this year. There are several
factors that may be contributing to the increase, including the repopulation of elms and the
unusual conditions of the past few winters, which are favorable to the elm bark beetles.
City of Edina City of Edina
4801 West 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Lelan Bosch
Communications Intern
Phone 952-833-9537
Fax 952-826-0390
www.cityofedina.com
PRESS RELEASE
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Approximately 200 to 300 “disease-resistant” elms have been planted in Edina over the past eight
years. Although this variety is much less susceptible to Dutch elm disease, a more aggressive
strain of the disease has recently been isolated. One of the disease-resistant elms in the
community has contracted Dutch elm disease.
For more information on Dutch elm disease and forestry issues, contact Horwath at 952-826-
0308.
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