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Linden Tree in Peril #933886

Asked June 02, 2026, 12:04 PM EDT

My 30 plus year old Linden tree has only tiny, stunted leaves this year. The "suckers" at the base appear green and leafy, but it's as though the buds failed to grow into regular leaves. Any advice that'll help save my tree is welcome.

Anoka County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for your question.

Please take some pictures of your tree and send to us. It is very difficult for us otherwise to make any type of assessment about what is going on. Be sure to include pictures of the leaves and buds

The thought that immediately comes to mind is there might be a scale infestation of your tree. Examine the branches to see if there are any brown bumps or perturbances on the bark. See the following for information and images about this and other conditions:

https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/linden-tilia-lecanium-scale

https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/deciduous/linden/leavesspots.html

You may want to consider having a professional, licensed arborist visit you and make an onsite assessment. That would be an excellent way to get to the bottom of things:

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional

Good luck!! Looking forward to helping you further with any pictures you can provide.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 02, 2026, 12:31 PM EDT

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