Trees We Care For: Elm Trees

As Michiganders, we’re fortunate to live alongside a number of iconic tree species, including several different kinds of elm trees (Ulmus spp.). 

Formerly common across the state, several elm species have unfortunately experienced severe population declines over the last 70 years or so, thanks to Dutch elm disease (DED). But some individuals have survived in scattered locations, and both cultivated and exotic elms have often replaced some that have been lost. 

Whether you have a native elm that’s managed to survive or you have a cultivated variety growing on your property, you’ll need to ensure it gets the care it requires. We’ll outline those needs and share some general tips for helping your elm trees thrive below. 

Michigan’s Elm Species

Michigan is home to a few native elm species, and a variety of exotic and cultivated forms are often planted by homeowners, commercial property managers, and park staff across the state. We’ll examine each of these groups separately below.  

Native Michigan Elm Species

Three elm species are historically native to Michigan. They include:

• American Elm (Ulmus americana): A large, fast-growing tree known for its iconic vase-shaped canopy and historic dominance in North American towns and floodplains before widespread losses from Dutch elm disease.
• Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra): A medium-to-large native tree that’s also called the red elm, the slippery elm is valued for its ability to thrive in rich, moist woodland soils across eastern North America.
• Rock Elm (Ulmus thomasii): A slower-growing native elm, the rock elm has exceptionally hard, strong wood and is capable of tolerating drier soils than some other elm species.

In addition to these three native species, there are a number of American elm cultivars available. Several of these cultivars have some degree of resistance to DED, which makes them the preferred choice for planting projects involving elms.  

Common Non-Native Elm Species in Michigan 

In addition to our native elm species, a few exotic species are commonly planted in our region. These include:

• Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila): A fast-growing, drought-tolerant Asian species, the Siberian elm is widely planted, but it does tend to spread invasively in some areas. 
• Scotch Elm (Ulmus glabra): Also known as wych elm, the Scotch elm is a large European species that is often planted ornamentally, even though it is susceptible to DED.
• Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia): Also known as the Chinese elm, the lacebark elm is a medium-sized ornamental species prized for its mottled exfoliating bark and partial resistance to Dutch elm disease.

How to Care for Your Elm Trees: A Michigan Homeowner’s Guide

No matter what type of elm you have (or you’re considering planting), they all require proper care. While each individual species has slightly different care requirements, and you’ll have to research the needs of the specific variety growing on your property, there are a few things that apply broadly to the group. 

Plant the Right Tree in the Right Space

No tree can thrive when planted in an inappropriate place, and that certainly applies to elm trees. This means selecting a location that provides enough space to accommodate the tree’s mature size and also offers the proper soil and environmental conditions. 

In terms of space, American elms require the most. They may reach 100 feet in height and produce canopies that spread for 90 feet or more in extreme cases, so be sure you don’t plant them too close to homes or structures. Most of the other elm species remain smaller, with crowns in the 30- to 60-foot range, making them better for smaller spaces. 

Unlike some other trees, elms don’t usually require full sun exposure — they’ll often thrive in partial shade, at least while they’re young. That doesn’t mean you want to plant them behind a large evergreen tree, but you don’t have to hunt for an ideal spot the way you may need to with a cherry tree (Prunus spp.) or willow (Salix spp.).  

Aside from the rock elm, which tends to grow best on somewhat dry sites, most elms will thrive in moderately damp soil. In natural spaces, many elms grow in floodplains or adjacent areas, and they survive brief flooded conditions better than many other hardwood species. 

Elms exhibit varying preferences with regard to pH level. American, slippery, and lacebark elms prefer neutral to slightly acidic soils, while rock, Siberian, and Scotch elms are most comfortable in neutral to slightly alkaline soils.   

Apply a Layer of Mulch

Applying a layer of organic mulch above a tree’s roots is a broadly helpful practice recommended for most trees and provides a variety of benefits. For example, mulch:

• Moderates soil temperatures
• Retains soil moisture
• Contributes organic matter to the soil
• Protects roots from mower damage
• Discourages weeds, turfgrasses, and other competing plants
• Helps reduce soil compaction

But you have to apply mulch properly to enjoy all of these benefits. That primarily means opting for a natural, organic mulch (avoid rubber-based products or rocks), applying it at an appropriate depth (2 to 4 inches), and keeping it about 3 to 6 inches away from the trunk. 

Provide Supplemental Water When Appropriate

While Siberian and lacebark elms are relatively drought-tolerant once established, many other elm species are thirsty trees with significant water requirements. They don’t require constantly wet soils (that will actually stress them), but they do benefit from supplemental water at times. 

In fact, most elms will benefit from supplemental water in the following situations:

• The first several years following planting. 
• During extended droughts. 
• Anytime the soil feels or appears excessively dry.

Just be sure that when you provide supplemental water, you do so slowly, infrequently, and deeply. This helps to encourage deep root development and prevent excessive runoff water. 

Fertilize Only When Needed

Fertilizer can be helpful for maintaining a healthy, vibrant canopy and maximizing the growth rate of elms (particularly the faster-growing species, such as the Siberian and American elms). 

However, fertilizer should never be applied indiscriminately or as a matter of practice; it should only be added to the soil following the identification of specific deficiencies via a soil test. Otherwise, you may not only be stressing the trees but also wasting money.   

Monitor Your Trees’ Health

It’s important to monitor the health of all trees, so that you can take prompt action at the first signs of trouble. But in addition to the typical threats most trees face, elm trees are susceptible to Dutch elm disease. 

Ideally, you’ll have an arborist assess your trees periodically, as they’ll have the trained eye needed to spot subtle signs that you may miss. But if this isn’t possible, be sure to look closely at your trees every two to three weeks, walk around the tree, inspect the entire canopy, and look for signs of wilting foliage, mushrooms, or premature leaf drop.   

Trimming & Pruning Elm Trees in Michigan

Elm trees will remain safer, healthier, and more attractive if they’re regularly pruned by a professional arborist. Generally speaking, routine pruning is recommended every three to five years, but you may also have to prune an elm for safety reasons at other times. 

There are a number of different pruning techniques arborists can use to achieve your specific goals, including:

• Crown Cleaning: The removal of dead, dying, diseased, damaged, or decayed limbs 
• Crown Raising: The removal of the crown’s lower branches
• Crown Reduction: The careful removal of branches to shrink the crown’s size
• Crown Thinning: The removal of select internal branches to promote airflow
• Vista Pruning: The removal of select branches to open sightlines 

Additionally, you may sometimes require trimming services, in which the crown is cut in relatively straight lines, without regard for the tree’s form. These aren’t typically recommended as they can damage the tree, but they’re occasionally required to restore access or provide more clearance.  

Learn about the differences between trimming and pruning.

Common Elm Tree Problems in Michigan

Any discussion of elm tree problems has to begin with Dutch elm disease (DED), but it is not the only problem that can affect elms. Nevertheless, because it’s clearly the most important threat to elms, we’ll discuss it separately.

Dutch Elm Disease

A vascular wilt disease caused by Ophiostoma fungi and spread by root grafts and elm bark beetles, DED was first reported in the United States in 1928. DED quickly spread across the U.S., killing millions of elm trees — especially American elms — in the process. In fact, by 1989, an estimated 75% of the country’s elms had perished. 

There are treatments available now, but they must be initiated preventatively or in the earliest stages of infection to have a good chance of saving the tree. The fungus can’t be eradicated completely from infected trees, but it can slow or stop its spread. These antifungal treatments must usually be repeated every two to three years. 

Some of the most common symptoms of DED include yellowing of the foliage, crown dieback, and premature leaf drop. Trees in advanced stages of the disease may shed bark or produce a large number of water sprouts, often near the base of the tree. 

Other Common Elm Tree Problems

Some of the other common problems seen in Michigan’s elm trees include:

• Elm Yellows: A phytoplasma disease that kills the inner bark of a tree and causes crown yellowing and leaf drop, elm yellows usually kills elms within one to two years. It is most harmful to American and slippery elms.
• Elm Leaf Beetle Attacks: An introduced insect whose larvae feed on the leaves, elm leaf beetles can repeatedly defoliate trees, resulting in stress, reduced vigor, and increased susceptibility to other threats.   
• Japanese Beetle Infestations: Another invasive insect, Japanese beetles feed heavily on elm leaves. While they rarely kill a tree outright, repeated attacks can result in severely stressed, defoliated trees.  
• Verticillium Wilt: A soilborne fungal disease that invades the root system and clogs a tree’s vascular tissue, verticillium wilt causes branch dieback and chronic decline.
• Black Leaf Spot: Also called anthracnose, black leaf spot is a fungal leaf disease that causes dark spotting, premature defoliation, and canopy thinning. It’s rarely fatal, though repeated infections can stress trees.

Signs Your Elm Tree May Require Removal

There are a number of signs that should prompt homeowners and commercial property managers to have their trees assessed by a professional arborist. Some of the most noteworthy examples are detailed below, but always err on the side of caution and solicit expert help if you notice anything out of the ordinary. 

• Fungal fruiting bodies, such as mushrooms or conks, are often associated with decay. 
• Sudden or increased lean, which may indicate a tree is at imminent risk of failure. 
• Large hollows or cavities, as they often signal decay and represent structural weaknesses.
• Crown dieback, which may indicate elm yellows or DED.
• Tight, V-shaped branch junctions, as these are often weak and feature included bark. 

If you notice any of these signs, you’ll want to contact a professional arborist and have the tree assessed. Removal will not always be required, but prompt action is necessary for treating many of the problems elms experience. 

Treemendous Tree Care: Providing Elm Tree Care in Clinton Township, MI

Whether you have a mature Siberian elm that requires pruning or an ailing American elm that needs to be removed, the professionals at Treemendous Tree Care are ready to help. Our experienced, fully insured team can provide the tree-care services you need, while employing zero-impact principles to ensure the safety of your family, home, and surrounding property. 

From Utica to Fraser to Roseville and everywhere in between, Treemendous Tree Care delivers the highest quality tree-care services in Southeast Michigan. Contact us today to schedule your free estimate and see the Treemendous Tree Care difference for yourself! 

Sources & References

• University of Michigan Herbarium – “Ulmus (Elm) genus overview on Michigan Flora”
  An online botanical reference providing taxonomic and distribution information about elm species (Ulmus) within Michigan, relevant for understanding species characteristics and regional presence.
  https://michiganflora.net/genus/Ulmus
• Michigan United Conservation Clubs – “Bringing Back the American Elm”
  A conservation blog post discussing efforts led by state agencies and partners to locate healthy American elm trees potentially resistant to Dutch elm disease and support restoration efforts.
  https://www.mucc.org/bringing-back-the-american-elm
• U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station – “Ulmus americana L. (American Elm) profile”
  A detailed species profile explaining the ecology, range, and historical impact of Dutch elm disease on American elm populations, useful for understanding species biology and disease effects.
  https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/ulmus/americana.htm
• Michigan Society of American Foresters / Michigan Technological University – “Elegant Elms”
  A newspaper-style article reflecting on the historical prominence of elms and their decline due to Dutch elm disease, illustrating cultural and ecological context for elm restoration discussions.
  https://msaf.forest.mtu.edu/ForestInfo/Newspaper/073-0307.htm
• National Invasive Species Information Center (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) – “Dutch Elm Disease overview”
  An authoritative description of Dutch elm disease, detailing its causative agents, affected hosts, and disease impacts, is essential for explaining disease threats in elm-related content.
  https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/pathogens-and-diseases/dutch-elm-disease
• The New York Times – “New Varieties of Elm Raise Hope of Rebirth for Devastated Tree”
  A 1989 news article reporting on breeding and planting of new elm varieties aimed at restoring elm populations after widespread losses from Dutch elm disease, providing historical context for restoration efforts.
  https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/05/science/new-varieties-of-elm-raise-hope-of-rebirth-for-davastated-tree.html