Protecting our trees from the elm leaf beetle

Last updated on 28 August 2023

Council will begin its annual treatment program to protect the shire’s elm tree population from the elm leaf beetle in the coming weeks.

The Macedon Ranges has a significant and healthy population of about 2,700 elm trees. These trees require special protection to prevent them from being attacked and defoliated by the elm leaf beetle – an important step to ensure the trees remain healthy.

The elm leaf beetle feeds on the leaves of elm trees and defoliates mature trees. Attacked trees have distinctive round holes in their leaves. Repeated infestations can seriously weaken trees, leading to problems with visual amenity, safety and lifespan.

Eradicating the elm leaf beetle is extremely difficult. Instead, Council aims to keep the number of elm leaf beetles as low as possible and reduce the damage they cause. To do this, Council has developed a preventative management program to protect significant stands of elms, mainly in parks and on avenues.

Treatment generally occurs between September to November. Methods include spraying and injecting the soil around the tree’s root zone with low-toxicity insecticide. This safe and effective method of treating large trees protects them for one or more seasons.

For more information, please view Council’s Township Street and Park Tree Management Plan.