The compost depot may be closed for the winter, but that shouldn’t stop St. Albertans from properly disposing of diseased wood.
The Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot will accept diseased branches and elm wood in the meantime, according to a release from the City of St. Albert.
“Having a bin available during the winter months allows the City to provide a disposal site that better aligns with proper pruning times for trees infected with black knot or other diseases, as well as bylaw-permitted pruning times for elm trees,” the Nov. 27 bulletin reads. “Trees are susceptible to diseases such as Dutch elm disease (DED) and black knot, and once established, these diseases can spread rapidly.”
It's against a city bylaw to prune elm trees during the growing season as it can cause wounds that attract beetles capable of spreading DED. Est no bueno.
There is no DED in St. Albert, but the ordinance is a “preventative measure” aimed at keeping the disease from spreading north from Edmonton, where it has been confirmed. Pruning elms between April 1 and Sept. 30 legally requires written permission from the city.
Black knot, meanwhile, is ubiquitous in Alberta, though there is no regulation that contemplates its control. Pruning for black knot, which can spread quickly and can “seriously” deform trees, often, chokecherry, pin cherry and other ornamental cherry trees in the Prunus family, should also take place in winter.
“Diseased branches cannot go in the Green Organics Cart as the city’s outdoor composting process cannot ensure that fungal spores are destroyed. Residents can dispose of small diseased branches infected with black knot in a sealed bag in their Brown Garbage Cart to prevent the spread of spores.”
Elm wood must be brought to the Recycling Depot.
