Dutch Elm Disease help please

[threebears63]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has ever successfully treated any of their trees for dutch elm disease? Several of our elm trees have been striken with it this summer, and I am heartbroken with the thought that they probably won't survive. I have never seen anything affect any kind of plant so quickly.

Unfortunately all of the elm trees that have the disease are closest to our house and quite tall and stately, they are in clusters with some of our lilacs and apple and cherry trees. The elms however are really the anchors, they are between 30-40 feet tall, provide perfect shelter to our feathered friends, and all of the late afternoon shade for the porch on our guest cottage. I absolutely love these trees, they are so huge I can even see them out the window when I am lying in bed, I just can't imagine them not being there.

All of the trees were perfectly healthy in the spring, then in July I started noticing dead leaves blowing around in the driveway, an odd thing for July. When I looked up I realized one of the trees had some dead branches way up at the top, but within about two weeks most of the tree looked dead. At first we thought maybe it was due to the severe drought we had last summer, but then the tree next to it started dropping leaves and last week the largest tree in that group started doing the same.

I have been doing some research online but am getting kind of tired of reading "the tree will probably die". I was hoping someone might have had some good luck treating this and would have some tips. I am not ready to say goodbye to my "friends".

Thanks!

Heather

[my3dotties]

Miracles do happen,but don't hold your breath.

I have been heart broken by many elm. Their sudden affliction and quick death. A year ago we lost a 125 yr old specimen we grew up with due to rot rather than disease. A rare disease resistant specimen. I think of this tree daily.

At this point little can be done,but save the money to have them removed.

Generally they pass quick and rot fast. They quickly become hazourdous from rotting and falling limbs.

Sorry for your loss.

Start planning for new tree plantings in honor of their fallen brother.

Goodluck

W1

[threebears63]

Thanks Dottie,

Sorry to hear about your elm tree, it must have been a real beauty, how lucky for you to have it all through your life. We are blessed to be living on a 100 acres, about 60 acres of trees and 40 acres of fields and ponds. But even though there are a great many trees to see from my windows, these are the nearest and dearest. We put up a little bird house in one and I can see if from my bedroom window, it's lovely to see the birds in and out, not to mention the chipmunk, for some reason he thinks it's fun to go in the birdhouse when it's unoccupied. There are shrubs in the grouping that grow berries that the birds love, and it is great shelter for the tiny birds from the hawks that love to circle the fields looking for dinner, usually mice or moles, but they will take the tiny birds if they're up for a chase. It's amazing how emotionally attached you become to the trees, they are just such a big part of our everyday life.

Cheers,

Heather