The Town of Morris will see provincial officials in the community on today, July 9, and Friday, July 10, 2026. They will be inspecting local elm trees for signs of Dutch elm disease, a deadly fungal infection.
The Town of Morris shared the dates in a public notice on July 6. Residents with elm trees on their property should be aware that trained inspectors will be in the area as part of a province-wide effort to protect Manitoba’s elms.
Dutch elm disease blocks the flow of water inside an infected tree, causing it to die. The American elm is the most at risk. Early signs include leaves suddenly wilting at the top of the tree, curling, and turning brown but staying on the branches. A brown stain might also show up under the bark.
Manitoba has been fighting this disease for close to 50 years after it first arrived in Winnipeg in 1975 through diseased firewood brought in from the United States. The provincial management program now works alongside 38 communities, including Morris. Inspections happen from June to early September because that’s when symptoms are most visible.
Anyone in Morris who spots a tree with possible signs of Dutch elm disease can call the province at 204-945-7866 to report it. Storing elm firewood is illegal in Manitoba because it helps spread the disease. Elm wood should be burned or chipped for disposal instead.
Residents are also reminded that pruning elm trees is not allowed from April 1 to July 31. The ban is in place because elm bark beetles, the main spreaders of the disease, are active during that window and are drawn to open cuts on branches.
