The growing season is over and trees have began to turn dormant for the cooler months.

This means the pruning ban in the Town of Okotoks to help protect against Dutch elm disease has wrapped up.

Gordon White, urban forester with the Town, says the next few months is the ideal time to get caught up on any trimming.

"The insects are attracted to pruning cuts and such," he says. "The pruning ban is now lifted so now is the time to cut elm trees between October 1 and March 31."

Each year the pruning ban takes effect in Okotoks from April 1 to September 30.

White says there's a specific part of trees residents should look for when they start to prune.

"When we're pruning our elm trees we're trying to target the dead wood because the elm bark beetles are attracted to dead wood as well so when our pruning ban is lifted I'd say that's the primary focus, the dead wood in the trees."

White says if pruning is done during the growing season, insects can be attracted to the pheromones released from fresh cuts resulting in the spread of Dutch elm disease.