Notice Board

Communities across Southern Alberta have been watching an infestation of European Elm Scale increasing over the last few years. It is believed that these insects came in with nursery stock and have gradually multiplied without pressure from natural predators. They attach to the trees to feed on branches and leaves and can eventually cause tree mortality. We have more than 1300 elm trees on campus, over 750 are infested and  to protect them  we have taken specialised training for the control measures required. Smaller trees can be protected by dislodging the Scale with a strong jet of water but larger trees will need treatment with an injected systemic insecticide called TreeAzin from BioForest Technologies. www.BioForest.ca  TreeAzin is the only product registered to treat the scale for sale in Canada. You may have seen us spraying some of the trees already with the water and that will continue as appropriate but soon you will see our workers drilling small precise holes in the base of the trees and placing small canisters into the tree to inject the TreeAzin into larger trees. Please go to the BioForest website for more information on the product and the program we are following. Questions for the Grounds Department can be directed to phil.dyck@uleth.ca