There is no problem with Dutch Elm Disease in the city of Weyburn this year, but residents should still be cautious.

"The city does its part to monitor the disease we have done some surveillance, sent some samples away and the results came back negative for Dutch Elm Disease. We had only one isolated case in the early 90s, but the disease is all around us, in Trossachs, in Yellow Grass, and north of the city," said Claude Morin of the City Works and Parks Department.

In the past, the city would spray trees as a preventative measure, but basal spraying has been discontinued since recent tests have concluded that a health risk is associated with the spray.

Morin listed two main things that residents can do to prevent Dutch Elm Disease from coming to Weyburn. Firstly, keep your elms healthy and prune the deadwood from the trees. Prunings from elm trees should be properly disposed of at the city's waste facility. Residents should note that pruning of elm trees is illegal between mid-April and mid-July. Secondly, residents are urged to not store or transport elm firewood.

Anyone with concerns can pick up pamphlets on Dutch Elm Disease from the city, or they can call Claude Morin at the City Works and Parks Department and a city worker will come out to check trees for the disease.