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Guardians of the Elms: Saskatoon’s Ecological Emergency

The elm, with its sweeping arch of green, has long been the cathedral tree of our northern cities. Its vaulted canopy shades our streets, cools our homes, and whispers to us of continuity with nature. In Saskatoon, nearly a quarter of the urban forest is elm—a treasure beyond measure. In the afforestation areas, too, Siberian Elms, and American Elms are a great portion of the canopy. Yet today, we face a dire crisis. The City has declared an ecological emergency as Dutch elm disease spreads with alarming speed. How to Identify an Elm. How to Spot Dutch Elm Disease Symptoms.

This is no ordinary ailment. Dutch elm disease (DED) is a ruthless invader, a fungus—Ophiostoma ulmi and its more virulent cousin Ophiostoma novo-ulmi—that enters the tree’s veins and clogs them, cutting off life itself. The carriers are small, inconspicuous elm bark beetles. On their wings, they bear spores like unwelcome cargo. Seeking places to lay their eggs, they search for damaged elm—pruned in the wrong season, broken by storm, or cut for careless firewood. From there, death marches through the canopy.

Richard St. Barbe Baker, silviculturist (forest doctor) has seen many forests suffer, but few plagues advance as swiftly as this. A tree that stood proudly in May may be yellowed and withered by August, its crown shriveling, its roots starving. So entire boulevards may fall silent, their green vaults gone, sunlight harsh and unbroken upon the pavement.

American Elm Ulmus Americana autumn leaf

Elm Leaves — American Elm Ulmus Americana autumn leaf

The Call to Action

The City has confirmed a record twelve cases this summer—more than ever before. Seven more trees show unmistakable signs and will be removed. Already, over 8,700 kilograms of elm wood have been gathered and destroyed, yet more remains.

Thai Hoang, Director of Parks, sounded the alarm plainly: “Do not store elm wood on your property. Do not burn it in your fire pit. About a quarter of our forest canopy is elm. This is not a minor issue—it is an ecological emergency.”

Indeed, the beetle thrives in neglected woodpiles. Every log, every stored branch, is a breeding ground. To keep elm wood is to endanger the very heart of our city.

Best Practices for Guardianship

We who love trees must become their guardians. There are simple yet essential practices:

Never transport or store elm wood. Dispose of it only at the City landfill, where handling is safe and free.
Obey the provincial pruning ban between April 1 and August 31. Fresh cuts draw the beetles like moths to a flame.
Water wisely. From April until mid-August, water deeply. Then let the trees harden for winter, with one or two final soakings before freeze-up.
Prune in very early spring. At that time, wounds heal quickly, and beetles are less active.
Maintain soil and roots. Fertilize thoughtfully, protect roots from damage during construction, and mulch well to prevent mower injury.

The elm is resilient if cared for. But neglect is its undoing.

The Mystery of the Survivor Elms

Yet even in this dark time, there is hope. Researchers tell us of survivor elms—trees that, though surrounded by the dying, endure. These are not unlike people who endured the scourge of COVID-19. Those with co-morbidities fared worse, while the strong sometimes resisted. So it is with elms. Healthy, vigorous trees may overcome where weakened ones fail.

In Minnesota and elsewhere, researchers funded by the MITPPC are studying these survivor trees, seeking to propagate their resilience. Early-flushing clones, resistant hybrids, and cultivars like Valley Forge, Prairie Expedition, and Jefferson may offer us a new generation of elms. Some of these hybrids draw strength from Asian species, which co-evolved with the fungus and are far less susceptible.

This is the field of hope: not only to protect the present, but to plant a future forest of resistance.

A Plea for Stewardship

Let us remember: the elm is more than wood and leaves. It is a shelter for birds, a fortress against wind, a cooling balm in summer, a companion in our daily walk. To lose it is to lose part of ourselves.

As Richard St. Barbe Baker often said, “if a man loses one-third of his skin he dies; if a tree loses one third of its bark, it too dies. If the Earth is a ‘sentient being’, would it not be reasonable to expect that if it loses one third of its trees and vegetable covering, it will also die?” The elm has stood beside us for generations; now we must stand for it.

The emergency in Saskatoon is real, but it need not be the end. With vigilance, with science, with love, and with law, we can yet preserve these cathedral trees. And in time, with resistant cultivars and survivor elms, we may restore what is lost.

But only if we act—together, now.

“The minimum for safety is one third of the total land area. I think what is happening to the elms must be alerting the whole country to the necessity of trees, of the need for more trees. The elm has the largest leaf surface of any tree in Britain. If you …. put the leaves together edge to edge, they would cover ten acres. So naturally, the first tree to suffer from air pollution was the elm and, of course, when an elm is suffering from fatigue it is subject to attack by disease: the elm bark beetle, the carrier of the elm fungus, comes along and the tree succumbs.

I look at it this way. If a person is living a normal life and not abusing themselves – not smoking too much, not eating too much, not drinking too much – but living normally and eating the right food – they will be fit and well. It is only when they start abusing themselves that they are prone to attack by disease. It is the same with trees.

The next tree to go (the next tree with the largest leaf surface after the elm) is probably the beech: after that the sycamore: and so on. Finally it will be Man’s turn. We forget that we owe our existence to the presence of trees and as far as forest cover goes, we have never been in such a vulnerable position as we are today. The only answer is to plant more trees – to plant for our lives.
Richard St. Barbe Baker answers the first question above” Richard St. Barbe Baker.

Bibliography

City of Saskatoon. (2025, August 29). Record Dutch elm disease cases identified; city urges action for ecological emergency. Retrieved from https://www.saskatoon.ca/news-releases/record-dutch-elm-disease-cases-identified-city-urges-action-ecological-emergency
City of Saskatoon. (2025, August 18). New cases of Dutch elm disease identified in Saskatoon. Retrieved from https://www.saskatoon.ca/news-releases/new-cases-dutch-elm-disease-identified-saskatoon
Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center. (2025). Survivor elms. Retrieved from https://mitppc.umn.edu/news/survivor-elms
CBC News. (2025, August 29). Saskatoon removes record number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-removes-record-number-of-trees-infected-with-dutch-elm-disease-1.7621670
CTV News. (2025, August 30). Saskatoon declares ecological emergency over Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/saskatoon-declares-ecological-emergency-over-dutch-elm-disease-1.7621670
CJME News. (2025, August 29). Saskatoon removes record number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.cjme.com/2025/08/29/saskatoon-removes-record-number-of-trees-infected-with-dutch-elm-disease/
CJWW Radio. (2025, August 29). Saskatoon removes record number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.cjwwradio.com/2025/08/29/saskatoon-removes-record-number-of-trees-infected-with-dutch-elm-disease/
Facebook. (2025, August 29). Saskatoon removes record number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2036431127184651
YouTube. (2025, August 29). Saskatoon removes record number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3lXGZZTtgE
YouTube. (2025, August 29). Saskatoon removes record number of trees infected with Dutch elm disease. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM94W_XQpNM

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““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

How to Identify an Elm

To stand as guardians of the elm, we must first know how to recognize it. The elm (Ulmus genus) is among the most graceful of trees, with hallmarks that set it apart from all others. How to Spot Dutch Elm Disease Symptoms. Guardians of the Elm. Saskatoon’s Ecological Emergency!

1. The Shape

The American elm, our most familiar, forms a vase-like silhouette. The trunk rises tall and straight, then branches arch outward and upward, meeting high above the street like the roof of a Gothic cathedral. From a distance, this vaulting canopy is unmistakable.

Elm Silhouette:
Silhouette of an American elm (Ulmus americana), its tall trunk rising into a graceful, vase-like form. The arching branches sweep upward and outward, creating a broad, fan-shaped crown that spreads wide like an open canopy, a classic hallmark of the species. — Elm Silhouette: Silhouette of an American elm (Ulmus americana), its tall trunk rising into a graceful, vase-like form. The arching branches sweep upward and outward, creating a broad, fan-shaped crown that spreads wide like an open canopy, a classic hallmark of the species.

2. The Leaves

Elm leaves are simple, oval, and finely toothed along the edge. They have a distinct asymmetrical base—one side of the leaf blade longer than the other where it meets the stem. This “uneven foot” is a true signature. The veins are bold and parallel, running straight from the midrib to each tooth of the margin.

3. The Bark

On young elms, bark is smooth and gray. As the tree matures, the bark becomes dark, deeply furrowed, and rough to the touch. These ridges may twist and interlace, giving the trunk an ancient, rugged strength.

Close-up of an American elm (Ulmus americana) trunk, showing the characteristic gray-brown bark with a distinctive lattice-like pattern of intersecting ridges and furrows. Other identifiable features include irregular, rough-textured plates and shallow fissures that run both vertically and horizontally along the trunk, giving the elm its iconic textured appearance.

4. The Seeds

Elms produce seeds in spring, often in great abundance. Each seed is round and flat, encased in a papery wing (a samara) that spins through the air like a coin tossed by the wind.

Close-up of American elm (Ulmus americana) seeds showing the small, oval to slightly round seed bodies. The surface is smooth to lightly textured, with a central embryo visible within each seed.
Courtesy Gmihail, CC BY 3.0 — Close-up of American elm (Ulmus americana) seeds showing the small, oval to slightly round seed bodies. The surface is smooth to lightly textured, with a central embryo visible within each seed. Courtesy Gmihail, CC BY 3.0

5. Species in Saskatoon

In our city, you may encounter:

American elm (Ulmus americana) – the classic vase-shaped elm, most common in boulevards.
Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) – smaller, faster-growing, but brittle; often used in shelterbelts.
Japanese elm (Ulmus japonica) – less common, sometimes planted as a hardy ornamental.

Close-up of American elm (Ulmus americana) buds on a young brown twig. The buds are oval-shaped with pointed tips and a scale-like pattern, projecting in the same direction as the branch. The scales are reddish-brown and somewhat hairy along the edges, and the twig is smooth to lightly hairy. The buds are longer and less squat compared with Siberian elm buds.

Courtesy Matt Lavin, CC BY 2.0 — Siberian Elm Bud

Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)

Buds: Tiny, dark, and rounded, resembling peppercorns with a flaky outer layer; 3 or more overlapping scales.
Twig: Young twigs hairy to sparsely hairy, initially green, maturing to gray-brown.
Bud Size: About 1/8 inch long; purplish-brown scales somewhat hairy, especially at the edges.

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

Buds: Oval-shaped with a pointed tip, scale-like pattern; projected in the same direction as the subtending branch.
Twig: Young twigs brown, hairy or smooth.
Bud Color & Texture: Brown with reddish scales, somewhat hairy at edges; longer and less squat than Siberian elm buds.

Key Differences:

Siberian elm buds are round and peppercorn-like; American elm buds are oval and pointed.
Siberian elm twigs are initially green, American elm twigs are brown.
Bud projection: American elm buds grow aligned with the branch, while Siberian elm buds are more rounded and sitting atop the twig.

Why It Matters

Elm bark beetles do not discriminate between species. All are vulnerable to Dutch elm disease. By learning to recognize these noble trees, you can help watch over them, notice early symptoms of DED, and take steps to protect Saskatoon’s canopy.

Did you Know?

“The City of Saskatoon started a unique project for the prairies called Afforestation, of “Man-made Forest”…aimed at improving the future environment of the City. The selection of plant material is based on the soil types, lay of the land, and type of planting scheme.

The following tree species were used:

American and Siberian Elm, Manitoba Maple, Green Ash, Poplar, Willow, Colorado Spruce, Scotch Pine and Caragana.” from a report written by A.L. Ligtermoet Assistant Parks Superintendent, City of Saskatoon. January 4, 1974 CoS archives.

These afforestation areas became known as Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

“To know a tree by name is the beginning of kinship. And when we know the elm, we see in it not just a tree, but a guardian of the land.”