Saskatoon has a growing Dutch Elm Disease problem in city trees, and it is only getting worse year after year. In a report on August 29, 2025, there have been 12 confirmed cases of Dutch Elm Disease in city trees and also have an additional seven trees that are believed are also infected but have not confirmed those yet. This makes a total of 19 trees that are either confirmed or potentially infected with the disease.

Thai Hoang is the Director of Parks and says that’s a new record for the city of Saskatoon. Last year, Saskatoon had about 11 infected trees. The year prior to that, there were four and there are concerns on the spread of the disease.

Hoang says the removal of those trees have a value of approximately $500 thousand with each tree removal being about $2 thousand. On average, it’s a very expensive problem that is only going to get more difficult and expensive to manage if it continues. He says people should not store or transport Elmwood because that is the two primary vectors through which the disease sets.