Linden Tree not blooming - Ask Extension
I emailed last year when my Linden tree failed to bloom in June as it has for the past 25 years. You attributed this to the two late May freezes whi...
Knowledgebase
Linden Tree not blooming #463563
Asked June 19, 2018, 10:53 AM EDT
I emailed last year when my Linden tree failed to bloom in June as it has for the past 25 years. You attributed this to the two late May freezes which made sense. However, this year, the leaves on the tree are very sparse and it has not bloomed again. Is there anything I can do? I would hate to lose the tree.
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
It sounds like and looks like your tree is under stress. I have some questions for you.
1. When and how much did you water your landscape this past fall and winter?
2. Does you tree sit in your lawn? If so, any weed and feed added to the lawn this year?
3 Any signs of insects?
4. Any damage to the foliage?
5. From which direction does you tree get the most sun?
6. Also, please send me some more pictures of the tree. I would like to see the base of the tree where it meets the soil. Also, I would like to see some close ups of the leaves. Finally, a close up of a branch with leaves attached.
Thanks
1. When and how much did you water your landscape this past fall and winter?
2. Does you tree sit in your lawn? If so, any weed and feed added to the lawn this year?
3 Any signs of insects?
4. Any damage to the foliage?
5. From which direction does you tree get the most sun?
6. Also, please send me some more pictures of the tree. I would like to see the base of the tree where it meets the soil. Also, I would like to see some close ups of the leaves. Finally, a close up of a branch with leaves attached.
Thanks
Thanks for your help Jeff. Here are the photos. I hope this is what you were looking for. We really love this tree and will try to help it if we can.
Hi Heather,
I was trying to see if your linden trees base has some "root flare." Take a look at this photo and look at the base of this linden. See how it "flares" out where the trunk meets the soil? http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Clapp_Hansen_Siegel/Pages/European_Linden.html
It's hard for me to tell, but I don't see any root flare on your tree.
With regards to the stems, I was trying to see how the tree has been growing the past few years. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell enough from the photos.
At any rate, I suspect that your tree has "girdling roots." That means that the roots are circling around the tree and winding upon themselves. In other words, the roots are not spreading out away from the tree. This eventually will kill the tree after about 15 to 25 years.
Here's some information about tree roots. Skip down to the section about "gridling roots."
http://cmg.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/659.pdf
There is some information about pruning out the girdling roots of trees in this PDF. You should ask a certified arborist about doing this. If you cut the wrong roots, the tree will be in danger of falling over.
I would recommend checking with a certified arborist anyway to get a second opinion. They can come out and look at your tree a give you a better idea. Check the Denver BBB for arborists.
Sorry for the bad news.
I was trying to see if your linden trees base has some "root flare." Take a look at this photo and look at the base of this linden. See how it "flares" out where the trunk meets the soil? http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Clapp_Hansen_Siegel/Pages/European_Linden.html
It's hard for me to tell, but I don't see any root flare on your tree.
With regards to the stems, I was trying to see how the tree has been growing the past few years. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell enough from the photos.
At any rate, I suspect that your tree has "girdling roots." That means that the roots are circling around the tree and winding upon themselves. In other words, the roots are not spreading out away from the tree. This eventually will kill the tree after about 15 to 25 years.
Here's some information about tree roots. Skip down to the section about "gridling roots."
http://cmg.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/659.pdf
There is some information about pruning out the girdling roots of trees in this PDF. You should ask a certified arborist about doing this. If you cut the wrong roots, the tree will be in danger of falling over.
I would recommend checking with a certified arborist anyway to get a second opinion. They can come out and look at your tree a give you a better idea. Check the Denver BBB for arborists.
Sorry for the bad news.
Thanks for your help Jeff. From what you describe, this could likely be our problem.
You're welcome.
