A horrible realization

This story is moderately long, but I think it has a decent payoff.

When we moved into our house three years ago, there was an unkempt hedge on one side of the front yard. Growing up out of the hedge were some vigorous young saplings. They would sway above the hedge, and the whole thing looked unsightly. For the first two years, I cut them down to the ground in fall, but they grew back quickly, putting on at least four feet in a growing season. At the time I knew next to nothing about gardening or field botany, and I had no idea what they were.

Last summer we pulled out the entire hedge, including the saplings, and replanted. However, I had noticed that there were two of these fast-growing trees on a small strip of public land next door. They were growing up right next to two planted Colorado spruces and out-competing them. One of the neighbors once commented to me how someone should get rid of them (the fast-growing trees). They certainly did look odd, the way they were encircling the spruces with multiple, wide-spreading trunks.

Finally, today I took a twig from one of these trees and sat down to the computer to identify it.

They are American elms, Ulmus americana. There can be no doubt: the twigs, young leaves, and seeds all match this elm species and no other. I can only imagine that several decades ago, my neighborhood was planted with American elms, which must have been wiped out by Dutch elm disease. But apparently they had left a legacy in the seed bank, and their progeny had grown vigorously in the unmowed hedge in our front yard. They probably grew up right next to those spruces because those were the only areas that the town didn't mow on that little strip of land.

Now I feel very guilty for having grubbed up those saplings and wished death on their more mature cousins next door. Of course, had we let them be, they would almost certainly have succumbed to Dutch elm disease eventually, as the trees next door likely will. But you never know what trees will prove resistant to the disease, and I feel as if we have wiped out a little bit of history.

In penance, I will research disease resistant American elm cultivars, and if I can find a suitable one, plant a couple of them in my front yard.

This message was edited Apr 29, 2008 10:16 PM

What a nice story. thanks, patti

Planting disease resistant elms is fine for one tree for a residential landscape, but promoting the genetic diversity of the native stands of elms is the best answer for the long term. That's exactly where the selections for resistance are coming from.

If we only plant the few disease resistant (currently) clones, we'll soon recreate the same problem that ultimately felled the monocultural landscapes of the past.

Resistance does not equal immunity, but it is a good start. Encourage public land managers to plant (or at least not to delete) native elms in parks and other large properties (especially woodlands and riparian zones) so that the genetics can be prolonged.

Absolutely. At the same time, I don't think planting one or two non-resistant elms on my small property would do anything for the long-term survival of the species, given how rare the resistance trait apparently is. The focus needs to be on maintaining and extending the sizeable populations that still exist here and there, largely on public lands.

Ultimately, if we got enough disease-resistant cultivars, they could be crossed with each other, resulting in the kind of genetic diversity that could sustain a resurgence in the species. From what I've read, the researchers are getting close to that.

We have several elm trees on our farm, one fairly young one in the yard. Maintaining those seedlings that you found at a distance from other elm will give you elm trees that will survive for a very long time. If you are in an area where there are no other elms and no dead elm wood, you will probably find that you have very little chance of having your trees infected. And the fact that they are there will help maintain the native population.

You said,
"I don't think planting one or two non-resistant elms on my small property would do anything for the long-term survival of the species".

Every little bit helps. You never know what is going to contribute to the overall health and long-term survival of the species. Good for you for at least making an attempt, however small you THINK it is. 2000 people thinking as you can make a HUGE difference.

Well, I've noticed a lot of elm seedlings popping up here & there on the property, so I think I'll just leave them for the time being. Once they're at a decent size, I'll likely transplant some of them and trade others. :)

Watch where those seedlings land though....I have a couple American Elms in my yard and those little buggers end up popping up everywhere every summer - sidewalk cracks, flower garden, the patio - if it has a bit of dirt, an elm will try to sprout there. In fact few days ago I had to relent and spray triclopyr on a few saplings that sprouted up and were breaking a foundation wall.

I'm way out west isolated from the range of Dutch elm disease though.

In some of the public parks around Chicago, I have noticed elms, american
elms I think ? I had trouble knowing for sure they were not slippery elm.
Evanston, Illinois , a Chicago suburb, has many old american elms that
have survived . Wonder if "global warming" would help elms make
a comeback.

Global warming has gone away in the western states. We have only had 2 days this year over 75. Lots of rain and cold 45 nights and 55 days. For over a month.

Hasn't gone away in this part of the west...we already had one 100+ heat wave in May which is very early for that sort of weather!