Colorado Springs Forestry officials are asking owners of elm trees to be on the lookout for signs of Dutch elm disease. The fungus causes a tree's immune system to stop circulating water, causing excessive wilting or dropping of leaves at the crown of the tree. The browning of leaves usually starts at the tips of branches and works its way down the tree, ultimately killing it.

          The disease, first identified in Colorado Springs in the 1970?s, is spread by the elm bark beetle, which feeds on elm wood. In recent years, the city has worked to remove infected trees and replace them with disease-resistant American elm trees.

          City staff members are available to inspect and test elms on public property and can provide limited visual inspections of trees on private property, however it is the property owner?s responsibility to remove the tree if it tests positive for Dutch elm disease.

     The City Forestry Division offers these tips for helping stop the spread of the disease:

·        Do not prune elm trees between April 1 and Oct. 1.

·        Remove dead branches from elm trees in late winter or fall to limit the breeding habitat of the bark beetles.

·        Do not store elm wood as firewood unless the bark has been removed.

·        Remove your tree within 10 days and dispose of it properly if the tree is diagnosed with Dutch elm disease.

          Colorado Springs? residents who suspect an elm tree is diseased are encouraged to call the City's Forestry Division at (719) 385-5942 or e-mail cityparks@springsgov.com.

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