Elm tree muddy area? - Ask Extension
Hi! I have an elm tree as my boulevard tree. There's a weird wet muddy area to the left (it has been there for a couple of years and not cleared up) a...
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Elm tree muddy area? #935656
Asked June 15, 2026, 8:28 PM EDT
Hi! I have an elm tree as my boulevard tree. There's a weird wet muddy area to the left (it has been there for a couple of years and not cleared up) and a brown area on one small part of the bark. Do you have any idea what might be going on? Pictures attached. We'd love to try to help this amazing tree but are worried this doesn't look very good.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thanks for your question.
My suggestion is that you first figure out what is causing the wet area on the boulevard by the elm. Once that is cleared up, the moist area on the trunk might disappear. Try contacting your municipal utilities department and request an inspection of the boulevard. I would be concerned that a leak in either an underground water pipe or an underground sewage pipe has occurred.
Once the source of the wet area has been determined, please get back to us so that we can deal with the wet area on your elm.
Good luck. Thanks for consulting us.
