City of Apple Valley tree inspectors will be looking for trees infected with Dutch elm disease and oak wilt. Tree inspections will be ongoing until leaves turn color in the fall.
City of Apple Valley tree inspectors will be looking for trees infected with Dutch elm disease and oak wilt. Tree inspections will be ongoing until leaves turn color in the fall. Diseased trees are identified with an orange paint ring. Property owners with diseased trees are notified by mail.
City Ordinance requires actively infected red oak and elm trees to be removed and disposed to prevent disease spread. The City has an approved cost share program available to residents for financial assistance with contracted expenses for specific disease prevention treatments and tree removal costs. Approximately 486 diseased red oaks and elms were identified and removed from public and private properties in Apple Valley last year.
Early symptoms of oak wilt and Dutch elm disease are wilting leaves that turn yellow and brown, and fall to the ground prematurely. Wilting often begins on individual branches and spreads throughout the crown. Symptoms are typically most prominent at the top of the tree and outer edges. The wilting process can take only a few weeks to spread throughout the entire tree. An abundance of fallen leaves on the lawn can be the first evidence of oak wilt or Dutch elm disease.
With the confirmation of emerald ash borer in the metro area, attention will also be given to ash trees with disease symptoms. Early detection, tree removal, and disposal are important control measures for managing emerald ash borer. Ash trees infected with emerald ash borer are subject to the same City Ordinance requirements.
Learn more about tree issues on the Forestry page.