Residents are being urged to avoid pruning elm trees beginning April 1st.
According officials, the restriction is part of a provincial elm pruning ban aimed at stopping the spread of a destructive tree disease carried by beetles.
The ban runs from April 1st to September 30th and prohibits not only pruning but also the storage, sale or transport of elm wood during that time.
The restriction is intended to slow the spread of Dutch elm disease, a fatal fungal infection carried by elm bark beetles.
Officials said prevention remains the most effective way to protect elm trees and their canopy. That includes avoiding any activity that could attract beetles, including pruning during the warmer months when they are most active.
Residents are encouraged to monitor elm trees for early signs of disease.
Some infected elms may fail to leaf out in the spring if the disease took hold the previous year. More common symptoms begin to appear in June, including wilting, curling and browning leaves. Later infections can cause leaves to yellow and drop prematurely.
Officials said early detection and quick reporting can help prevent the disease from spreading to nearby trees, preserving urban canopies across southern Alberta.
