Trees

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Hazardous trees

On private property, hazardous trees are the responsibility of the landowner.

If you are concerned about a hazardous tree in a subdivision municipal reserve, please contact Agricultural Services.

If you are concerned about a hazardous tree in a county ditch, please contact Public Works.

If you are concerned about a hazardous tree falling on a powerline, please contact Fortis Alberta or call 310-WIRE.

If you are concerned about a hazardous tree on a designated Parkland County trail or park, please contact Parks, Recreation, and Culture.

What's wrong with my tree?

Black knot

Black knot is a disease that affects trees of the Prunus species including Mayday, choke-cherries and cherries.

Browning of evergreens

Have you noticed your evergreens are turning brown? There can be many different causes, so check out Browning of Evergreens for some tips.

Dutch elm disease

To help keep Alberta dutch elm disease free, please remember that there is a provincial elm pruning ban from April 1st to September 30th every year.

Elm trees are susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease, carried by the Elm Bark Beetles. Dutch Elm Disease is killing trees east of Alberta, resulting in complete urban deforestation of elm species in some areas.
Elm Bark Beetles carrying Dutch Elm Disease could be transported to this area by the movement of firewood or by winds. These beetles are attracted to wounds from pruning or damage to elm and if infected, they could cause the death of the tree in a few years.
As a result of this threat, the Province has instituted an elm tree pruning ban from April 1st to September 30th of each year. If you need to get rid of damaged limbs, or if the elm is too close to the house, prune them after September 30th and before April 1st to ensure any wounds dry off prior to beetle activity in late spring.

Insect damage

Check out our page on bugs to determine if the damage you see on your trees could be from insects.

Mountain pine beetle

The mountain pine beetle (MPB) is a small, black beetle about the size of a grain of rice that attacks all varieties of pine trees.
For several years, the MPB has been expanding east into Alberta from British Columbia, with sightings in nearby counties in recent years. Early detection and control are vital to managing the MPB and preventing further spread.

How can I tell if my trees have been attacked?

The first signs of attack are creamy globs that look like crystallised honey, called "pitch tubes", and sawdust around the base of the tree and/or in bark crevices.
Learn more about identifying the MPB and attacked pine trees.

When do beetles attack and how long do they stay in trees?

Adult beetles fly in search of new trees in July and August. Once a beetle has found a suitable tree, it will stay there for the rest of its life laying eggs that will emerge in the following year.

If my tree is attacked, will it die?

Trees successfully attacked by the MPB typically die within one year. Trees that repel the attack may become stressed and more susceptible to future attacks and should be monitored.

What can I do?

While there is no certain prevention against MPB attack, here are some actions you can take to protect your property and prevent further spread:

Keep your trees healthy - MPB are more likely to attack stressed trees
Scout out the pine trees on your property, look for the signs of MPB and wrap survey tape around each tree you suspect may have been attacked
Remove any tree with with more than 40 "pitch tubes" by:
- Hiring an arborist with a chipper,
- Selling and transporting a tree to a sawmill, or
- Burning mass attacked trees
Do not transport MPB infested pine with bark attached

For more information on the MPB, visit Mountain Pine Beetle in Alberta Publications.
To learn about the history of the MPB migration into Alberta, visit March of the Mountain Pine Beetle.

Transplanting trees

Tree permits to remove small trees from ditches are available from Public Works.