Knowledgebase
Linden tree issues #414046
Asked July 13, 2017, 5:30 PM EDT
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi,
Sometimes linden trees don't bloom for a year. The blossoms could also have been damaged by the late snow that we had. Sometimes there are micro climates where temperatures and effects of the snow impact plants differently.
I don't believe the gall mites impacted the blooming of the tree.
I have included below a response from a horticulture agent regarding the gall mites which I believe you will find helpful.
Please contact us again if you have further questions.
Annalisa
CSU Extension Office, Master Gardener
Hello,
While it looks like it's destructive, this is a common occurrence on many woody plants. One of the most common galls we see each year is hackberry nipple gall.
Your linden has finger-like galls, which are caused by eriophyid mites or gall mites. More information on galls can be found here: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05557.html
I wouldn't recommend any treatment as it seems to be a seasonal thing...some years trees get the galls; other years they don't. The leaves are still healthy and can photosynthesize. Plus, since the galls have already formed, there is little you can do. There are a lot of natural predators that attack the mites causing the galls.
-Alison O'Connor, PhD, Horticulture Agent, Larimer County Extension