1. Lorna, one of our OPT volunteers, went back to both parks to place sprial trunk guards around each young trunk. She noticed some of the elms are bent over at an angle that might not allow them to grow up to the usual tall and straight canopy we normally expect from elm trees. I went back to confirm this and to take photos of each elm (please see attached) to ask for your advice please?  Should we place stakes down to try to straighten the bent trunks back to centre? We have heard that staking trees can lead to complications later on as the young trees need to learn resistance to wind if they are to grow strong?

1. Elm seedlings generally start out with a zigzag form when they are young and straighten naturally as they grow. We have just planted many of the same trees here in Guelph that have those angles and curves, and we are planning to let nature take its course as they grow. You would be able to stake them if you are concerned, but as you mention there can be some further issues with that. 

2. Although each sapling has had fencing placed around it, to protect it from animals and lawn mowers, mulch has not yet been laid to control weed growth and improve water retention. Is mulch necessary?

2. I would encourage mulch to help keep the weeds away and retain moisture and coolness in the root zone.

3. How often should these saplings be watered so we can set up schedules with OPT volunteers?

3. We water our saplings here when there has been almost a week without a thorough, soaking rain. 

4. After hearing an amazing lecture by Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger at an Earthfest event held in Carleton Place on the 3rd May I mentioned to her that we had replanted disease resistant elm saplings, developed by the UofG, back in the park close to a magnificent old elm that your university had apparently chosen to help with breeding other elm trees. Dr. Beresford-Kroeger got quite excited and asked for my contact details as she said such old disease resistant elms are the hope for the return of the elm trees. Consequently I went back to Stewart Park next day to see if I could find any seed pods around the Grand Old Lady Elm (as we have tentatively called the tree although we are not certain about tree gender) and found quite a number. Most pods had already popped out their seeds but I did retrieve many that still appeared to contain a seed. Some had even started a tiny sprout and I placed them in potting soil when I returned home. Hopefully they will continue to grow until they can be replanted but what should I do with them and the seed pods that have not yet sprouted?

4. Through media outreach, over 800 large surviving elm trees were identified across Ontario. The most promising of these trees were cloned and underwent inoculation trials at The Arboretum. Those that have demonstrated tolerance to Dutch Elm Disease are propagated and incorporated into a pollen orchard, which serves as a gene bank for producing diverse, disease-tolerant elm seeds. The trees we sent to you are clones of those trees that have been tested, so genetically they are identical to some of those old elm trees that are still standing around Ontario. It is possible that the tree you have dubbed the 'Grand Old Lady Elm' is the one which we have dubbed 'Perth', of which we sent a few back to you. These trees have been proven to be tolerant to the disease, so we are hoping that the seeds that come off of them will be helpful in producing the next generation of tolerant elm trees. We are hopeful that the seed from those trees can spread into wild areas surrounding Perth and continue the natural regeneration of the species. You could spread any seeds you have collected into natural areas nearby or use the seedlings in community plantings as you wish, the opportunities are endless.

Sarah Farquharson (she/her) | Horticulturist

The Arboretum | University of Guelph