Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | View in browser
Preserving Our Urban Giants: The City’s Initiative to Protect American Elm Trees
 Video of Tree Innoculation
EVANSTON, IL - Recognized as a Tree City USA community, the City continues its commitment to the health of its iconic, stately American elms. These iconic trees are highly susceptible to Dutch elm disease, which has decimated the American elm population nationwide. The City is working to preserve this species and its significant contributions to the local ecosystem and Evanston’s biodiversity through a strategic partnership with Emerald Tree Care and Rainbow Ecoscience. These organizations offer specialized expertise in managing tree health and implementing the City’s plant health care initiatives.
The Forestry Division of the Public Works Agency developed and is leading this effort to inoculate approximately 1,500 American elm trees on public property across the community with a targeted fungicide formulation. The injection process, a carefully monitored procedure, is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 29, and is expected to be completed by September 2026. The antifungal treatment is individually formulated for each tree. This protocol is an important component of managing the long-term vitality and resilience of American elms.
Thomas Iannetti, the City's Forestry Supervisor, emphasized the importance of timing: “When applied at the appropriate moment, antifungal injections can be a highly effective management strategy, significantly reducing disease pressure while preserving mature trees that would otherwise face decline or removal.”
To ensure maximum protection against potential disease outbreaks, inoculations against Dutch elm disease must be repeated according to product recommendations. The City continues to use Arbotect, which has a 3-year repeat cycle, demonstrating ongoing dedication to preserving the urban forest and promoting a healthy tree canopy. American elms are native to the region and contribute numerous ecosystem services to wildlife, other plants, and people.
Property owners who wish to protect their trees should consult with a certified arborist specialized in plant health care and create a management plan specific to each tree. The City’s contract with Emerald Tree Care includes identical pricing for property owners with American elms on their property. Interested property owners can visit the City’s Dutch Elm Disease webpage for more information, including current pricing, details about the City’s 50/50 cost-share program, which is supported through the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance, and access to the sign-up form.
Community members are encouraged to explore the informative webpages of Emerald Tree Care and Rainbow Ecoscience to gain a deeper understanding of this process.
For more information about the program, call 847-448-4311 or simply dial 3-1-1 while in Evanston.
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Media Contacts:
Cynthia Vargas
cvargas@cityofevanston.org
Phone: 847-448-8234
Jessie Mayo
jmayo@cityofevanston.org
Phone: 847-448-8041
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