Linden drops leaves

jsan

Very puzzling why this problem suddenly appeared!
Two linden trees planted in six foot space between two driveways did well for 12 years. Three years ago they began to drop leaves in June. We applied fertilizer and for two years a fungicide to soil. The one near the driveway end still does well and drops only a few leaves. The other, 20 feet away in the center, is dropping many leaves, is smaller, and has some small dead branches. Dead branches do not have dark center that would be typical of earth-spread fungus. Possible salt problem from road runoff but the same conditions existed for 30 years at least. I have a picture. Does anyone think this looks like a simple problem of roots failing to have sufficient air and moisture? Or does the sudden onset three years ago suggest some disease?

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Eric Frei

You need to do a bunch of soil tests starting with pH.

Maybe water runs a certain way that has changed soil biota in that specific area.

Pictures of the bases and around the base of trees will help us.

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jsan

Thanks. I will get moving on soil tests. That will settle the possible salt contamination question and perhaps others. Here is a picture of the base.

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Brent Ferris

It looks like the soil grade has been raised and the roots are being suffocated. Trees normally flare out at the base, your tree goes into the ground like a utility pole.

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jsan

The tree was planted with the current grade, but there is not much space between asphalt driveways and the soil is very bad. Tests show pH is 7.5 and phosphorous, potash, and nitrogen are all very low. I am beginning to think of Verticillium Wilt. The branches to no have the typical signs and affected leaves do not begin at base of branch but the wilt does appear in early summer as with Verticillium.