The Head Gardener

07/23/2026

05/15/2026

A little friend out to help me

05/14/2026

05/14/2026

05/06/2026

Ever notice black swellings on cherry or plum trees? 🌳That’s Black Knot, a common fungus in Edmonton.

The City manage public trees on a four-year pruning cycle, rotating through different quadrants of the city each year.

To stop the spread, our teams sterilize tools between every cut and dispose of diseased wood at specialized waste centers rather than mulching it.

What you can do with your private trees:
❄️ Prune trees during late fall to early spring while trees are dormant and temperatures are below zero
🪵 Prune at least 15-20cm below the knot
🗑️ Do not compost branches. Seal them in a bag and dispose of them in your black garbage cart

Learn more: edmonton.ca/blackknot