Key takeaways
- UNR Extension lists Siberian elm as low water use and high salt tolerance, hardy in zones 4 to 9.
- The same table notes it may be planted only in unincorporated areas of Washoe County.
- Elm leaf beetle feeds mainly on Siberian elm in Northern Nevada; the tree is rarely killed outright, but repeated defoliation weakens it.
- Keeping the tree watered helps it tolerate defoliation, per Extension.
- Spraying and injections are outside Battle Born's services.
If your house was built before the 1980s, the large elm in the yard was probably planted for shade when the neighborhood was new. These trees do not die easily, but they get old, and the decisions about them come up in older neighborhoods again and again.
Why are Siberian elms everywhere in Northern Nevada?
Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) tolerates our dry, alkaline conditions. University of Nevada, Reno Extension's table of boron- and salt-tolerant trees for Northern Nevada lists it at low water use, high salt tolerance and moderate boron tolerance, hardy in zones 4 to 9. It was a practical choice for shade on lots without much irrigation.
The same table has a footnote that matters if you are thinking of planting one: it may be planted only in unincorporated areas of Washoe County. Check local rules before planting any new tree. Our Siberian elm profile has identification details.
Age and the neighborhood
Census data shows how old many of our neighborhoods are. About 62.5 percent of homes in the 89509 ZIP code in Old Southwest Reno were built before 1980, and about 48.6 percent in Carson City. Trees on those lots have had decades to grow, and some are at the point where large limbs, cavities or lean become the main question.
What does the elm leaf beetle do to Siberian elms?
Extension's elm leaf beetle publication says the beetle feeds mainly on Siberian elm in Northern Nevada. Larvae feed on leaves in summer, leaving a lacy, brown, skeletonized look, and leaves can curl and drop early. The tree is rarely killed outright, but repeated defoliation weakens it over several years.
Extension's first recommendation is simple: keep trees well watered, because vigorous trees tolerate defoliation better than drought-stressed ones. Its other options are insecticide treatments. We do not spray or inject trees, so for those the Extension office and licensed applicators are the contacts. See our elm leaf beetle page.
Pruning an old elm
- Clean the crown of dead wood; it can be done any time of year
- Reduce weight on long, heavy limbs that reach over roofs, with reduction cuts, not topping
- Prune in the dormant season for structural work, late winter for most deciduous trees
- Ask about cabling where there is a weak fork on an otherwise sound tree
See the best time to prune and cabling and bracing.
When removal is the answer
The ISA says hiring an arborist is recommended when a tree is dead, dying or considered an unacceptable risk, when it causes an obstruction that is impossible to correct through pruning, or when new construction requires removal. For a very large elm over a house, the work often uses a crane or boom truck. We explain the options in how crane tree removal works.
A certified arborist assesses every job first. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. We never tell you a tree is safe or unsafe without looking at it.
Sources
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Boron- and salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for northern Nevada (read October 17, 2026)
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Elm Leaf Beetle (read October 17, 2026)
- International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Why Hire an Arborist (read October 17, 2026)