Neighbors present:
Jenny Breckler 1135 Fresno
Joe Campbell 945 Fresno
Barnaby Davidson 1128 Fresno
Paul Johnson 1121 Fresno
We're sorry to report that Mr. Young had no good new for us. Although he could not positively state that our trees have DED (Dutch Elm Disease) without seeing a laboratory report, he was willing to stipulate that our symptoms are consistent with DED or possibly a similar (and equally devastating) fungal infection that affects elms.
We began our tour at 1128 Fresno and ended at 945 Fresno. Both locations provided an upstairs perspective to Mr. Young for surveying the upper branches and tops of the trees.
We questioned Mr. Young about treatment of trees that were infected, but not yet moribund. The most common treatment is fungicide injections, but they only slow the spread of the fungus and do not provide a cure, and are also expensive--on the order of $100 per tree per year for the entire life of the tree. Because injections cause injury to the tree (trunk decay) and can thus further spread DED, this treatment is recommended only for strong, vigorous trees. This makes our trees poor candidates for this treatment because of the poor care (“brutal pruning,” as he put it) they received at the hands of the city and PG&E over the years, and their current poor general health. He estimated that the “vast majority” of the Fresno trees would be moribund in two to four years. Although some trees may be of a resistant variety and may manage to hold out longer (i.e. perhaps up to ten years), no species of elm is immune to DED, and all will eventually succumb.
Mr. Young offered the following summary (which I have liberally edited):
“There are no miracle cures. You can briefly delay the inevitable at great expense. I think that the investments of money, time, and emotion are better spent on new trees that will thrive for the next 50 years than on the current negative situation. The best solution is to reach a management compromise with the City. Individual trees should be allowed to remain as long as they are aesthetically acceptable and present no public danger. You need to develop a long-term plan for replacement trees consistent with neighborhood desires.”
Along the way, Mr. Young suggested that the neighborhood should also consider selecting two different species to replant in order to prevent a reoccurrence of this type of problem. He also noted that the east and west sides of the street may require two different types of trees due to the wires and poles on the east side. He also mentioned that the decision on which type of tree to replant should be made sooner rather than later so that large numbers of trees can be purchased and reserved from a grower that would then be held for replacement as needed over a two- to four-year period.
He is available to help us select trees if we wish.
We will be passing the hat at the Sept 4th meeting to collect approximately $100 for Mr. Young's services.
For the Record:
Seven elms in the 900 block have been marked by the city for removal in
the next couple of months. One tree in the 1000 (one thousand) block is
marked for removal. Although the 1100 block is less obviously infected,
early signs of the disease were clearly apparent to Mr. Young today.