Elm Tree Maintenance

Main identifiers:

  • Most common species found in Colorado: The American and Siberian elms are the two most popular elm tree species in Colorado. There were far more American elm trees in the Denver area before Dutch Elm disease destroyed much of the population.
  • Leaf shape and color: Elm tree leaves are oval-shaped with a jagged edge
  • Bark texture: Elm trees have a dark-brown/medium-gray appearance that looks scaly with deeper grooves. Some people refer to elm trees as ‘lacebark elm’ because the bark looks like lacework.

Most common diseases and pests:

Elm trees are known to battle European Elm Scale, which as the name suggests presents a scale-like distortion of an elm tree’s bark. The Elm Leaf Beetle is the most notorious pest that loves feeding on elm trees. This little yellow-and-black bug eats elm tree leaves and implants its larvae inside the leaves.

European Elm Scale

European Elm Scale, Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, bugwood.org
Elm Leaf Beetle

Elm Leaf Beetle, Photo by Didier Descouens – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elm with Bacterial Wetwood
Elm with Bacterial Wetwood
Elm with Bacterial Wetwood
Elm with Bacterial Wetwood
English Elm
English Elm

 

Relevant Information

The Denver Homeowner’s Guide to Winter Watering and Landscape Care

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UPDATE: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Infestation Spreading

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How Can I Tell If My Denver Trees Are Stressed?

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Besides the EAB, How Do I Keep My Ash Tree Healthy In Denver?

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Jon Cook / June 25, 2019
With all the hype around EAB, it's easy to forget ash trees face a variety of other threats. Learn what...
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How Do I Keep My Apple Tree Healthy and Happy In Denver?

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Jon Cook / April 22, 2019
Are you ready to 'give in to temptation', as the Denver Post suggests, and add an apple tree or two...
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The Homeowner’s Guide to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

The Homeowner’s Guide to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

Jon Cook / January 31, 2019
Boulder has been under quarantine since the arrival of EAB in 2013. But the Denver Post reports that just earlier...
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