Ounces of prevention

Injection of fungicide seeks to prevent Dutch elm disease

By FRITZ BUSCH Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM - In an effort to prevent Dutch Elm Disease, a towering elm tree north of the German Park band shell received some preventative "medicine" Wednesday.

John Sanford and Cotey Bandow of Belek Tree Service of Courtland poked 52 tiny holes in the elm's trunk and slowly applied a mixture of Arbotect fungicide and water through small, rubber hoses.

"It's like IV (intravenous) therapy. It's preventative on this 80- to 90-year-old tree," said Sanford.

No female elm bark beetles were found in the tree - a positive sign of good health for the tree.

The beetles lay eggs beneath the bark of dead and dying elm trees.

If elms are infected with Dutch Elm Disease, newly hatched beetles emerge from the tree carrying the deadly fungus on their bodies.

The beetles fly to nearby healthy trees to feed on branches and spread the disease.

Flagging, a group of yellow or wilting leaves, is an early sign of Dutch Elm Disease.

Sanford said the treatment can be done on elm trees every three years to ward off the costly shade tree disease that remains active in a community as long as there are susceptible trees.

He will treat several other elm trees in New Ulm with the fungicide later this summer.

Ash may be the next trees that could succumb to an invasive bug.

Sanford said residents with ash trees on their property should be on the look out for tree damage.

Tiny, emerald ash borers (EAB) - named for their metallic green color - have killed millions of ash trees from Chicago to Detroit and points east.

"They've been found from Chicago to Detroit and may move this way. People should watch their ash trees," Sanford said.

Minnesota has no confirmed EAB incidents yet.

EABs were discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002.

They likely arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in their native Asia.

Because North America ash trees have no immunity to the insect, it has the potential to wipe out more than 700 million ash trees in Michigan alone.

Earlier this month, Virginia quarantined movement of ash trees and products from Fairfax County (near Washington, D.C.)

The pests may be accidentally spread to new locations by people moving firewood from one location to another.

Sanford added that residents with questions about their trees should contact certified tree disease officials including himself or Diane Rodenberg of New Ulm.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).