Siberian Elm - Give it a good trim or take it down? - Ask Extension
Hello,
We have a +/- 100-year-old Siberian Elm on our property in Wash Park and are trying to decide if it needs to come down or if we should give i...
Knowledgebase
Siberian Elm - Give it a good trim or take it down? #864912
Asked April 17, 2024, 5:09 PM EDT
Hello,
We have a +/- 100-year-old Siberian Elm on our property in Wash Park and are trying to decide if it needs to come down or if we should give it a good trim. We lost several large branches in the big snowstorm last month and have had issues with the tree in the past, including elm leaf beetle infestations. When we last had the tree trimmed, about 3-4 years ago, we were told by the arborist that the tree was nearing the end of it's life and we should consider taking it down. We would hate to take down such a wonderful old tree, but we are concerned with the damage it may continue to cause if it keeps loosing major limbs. Is this something you might be able to provide guidance on?
Thank you!
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
When we receive questions about whether to remove trees, we usually suggest consulting a certified arborist, which you have already done. I have no reason to disagree with your arborist.
It is hard to think about removing such a large tree, but there may be good reasons to do it. The decision involves balancing multiple factors. For example, Siberian elm is an undesirable invasive species to begin with, your tree is quite old, it has already lost major branches and its location may present a risk to other property if it loses more large branches.
Here is a link to some great suggestions about how to consider whether to remove a tree.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree/
Thank you for your inquiry and best of luck with your tree.
It is hard to think about removing such a large tree, but there may be good reasons to do it. The decision involves balancing multiple factors. For example, Siberian elm is an undesirable invasive species to begin with, your tree is quite old, it has already lost major branches and its location may present a risk to other property if it loses more large branches.
Here is a link to some great suggestions about how to consider whether to remove a tree.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree/
Thank you for your inquiry and best of luck with your tree.
