Landscape Maintenance

A proliferation outbreak of Black Knot Disease on trees has been observed in Olds. This dreaded fungal disease affects Apricots, Plums and Cherries in the Prunus genus. This is most prevalent in Schubert Chokecherry and Mayday trees here in Alberta although other cherry trees and plums can certainly be affected.

Fire blight is a highly destructive disease of several members of the rose family, is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. This disease is one of the most destructive diseases of fruit trees in North America. It occurs sporadically and unpredictably and occasionally reaches epidemic levels.

Dutch elm disease (DED) is a costly, deadly disease that affects all species of elm trees in Alberta. It is caused by a fungus that clogs the elm tree's water conducting system, causing the tree to die. The fungus is primarily spread from one elm tree to another by 3 beetle species. The beetles are attracted to weak and dying trees, which serve as breeding sites. Once the beetles have pupated and turned into adults, they fly to healthy elms to feed, transporting the fungus on their bodies from one tree to the next.