Dutch elm timber

[robbshowe]

I have been asked by a client to use elm trees on his land that have been felled because they have shown evidence of Dutch Elm Disease.  Can these be used for a timber beamed garage if they appear undamaged or should they be burned as soon as they are felled for fear of transmitting this disease?  If they appear disease-free I will need to transport these timbers back to my yard for machining and I am concerned spores may transfer to my current stock of timbers(oak, larch, sycamore and chestnut). Any advice would be welcome.

[Ron Wenrich]

Dutch elm disease is carried by bark beetles.  The fungal spores are in the egg chambers and on tree wounds.  Beetles make their chambers under the bark, especially lose bark on dead or dying trees.  The young carry the fungus in the next growing season.

The elm timber would be OK, as long as you don't have any lose bark on it.  The beetles only go under the bark, so it isn't in the wood.  The spores wouldn't effect any of your other timbers. 

There are a couple of ways to treat the logs if you have a great concern.  You could peel the bark off the trees, which isn't hard on dead trees.  Or you could spray them with an insecticide to kill the beetles.  Or cut the timbers when it is cold and the beetles are dormant.  I would burn the slabs and edging strips as a precaution.

Are you sure its Dutch elm disease and not something else?  There are other diseases that look like Dutch elm disease.  Wetwood and a couple of types of wilt will also look like it.

[Phorester]

In addition to Ron's information, Dutch Elm Disease will not infect any other tree species.

Ron's right about other diseases taking out elm.  But unless the killer of the elms was diagnosed by an arborist or forester, it could have been misdiagnosed.  My suggestion however, would be to just go ahead and remove any bark and burn it anyway as if the trees were killed by DED just to be sure.

[Loghead]

I used to work at a mill where we sawed at the burn pit and as long as the bark was completly sawn off it was ok to transport. Any chance of sawing the timbers at there site and burn slab right there??

[robbshowe]

I am a Forestry Forum virgin and am very impressed with the speedy replies and excellent advice offered.  The DED was diagnosed by a tree surgeon so I'm confident what killed these trees.  I like the idea of milling the trees on his patch and burning the slab wood there also.  I only have WM LT 15 which is not really a mobile mill but given the value of the contract I will probably tackle it this way. Thanks again - from bonny Scotland!