Linden Tree Pruning Tips

What You'll Need
Sharp pruning shears
Work gloves

The Linden tree is a common shade and ornamental tree; its dark green leaves and attractive white flowers make it a popular choice for amateur gardeners looking to landscape their garden with large trees. The Linden tree can be planted in almost any location; it is easy to grow and to take care of. Because the Linden tree spreads its leaves and branches over a wide area, it can be a good idea to occasionally prune these back in order to prevent intrusion into other gardens. This way you will prevent the tree from cutting off sunlight to smaller flowers and plants.

Tip 1 - Why Prune?

Pruning large trees can help to prevent failure of the branches, which can lead to trunk decay and other unsightly problems. It also helps the Linden tree to grow upright, rather than spread wide. The Linden tree generally grows to 50 feet in height or more, so pruning can be a difficult task to perform. Fortunately, single trees do not need much pruning, except to help the tree keep its shape.

Tip 2 - When to Prune

The best time to prune these trees is in the winter, when it is not producing buds, flowers or fruits and can therefore be cut without harm to the tree. Trim root suckers and buds away to keep the linden tree growing upwards. Larger twigs and branches can be lopped if the tree has been allowed to grow out of hand previously.

Tip 3 - Which Parts to Prune

One of the biggest problems with the linden tree is the development of lower branches, which are prone to over-extension and damage. They can literally droop under the weight of their branches, so leaving them to get to this stage can leave unsightly scars and decay. It is better to remove low branches entirely, or keep them smaller by frequent pruning of stems and buds. Removing dead branches at the end of every year can help to keep the linden tree in top condition.

Tip 4 - Pests

The Linden tree is also the victim of a bug which makes the leaves look untidy or dead. Pruning affected leaves and stems helps to combat the disease and is an excellent opportunity for checking the tree for pests such as the Japanese beetle and aphids.

Tip 5 - Linden Tree Hedging

Surprisingly for its size, the Linden tree makes a great hedge tree. It can be used as border fencing or for formal knot-garden styles. The best kind of tools to use for this kind of severe pruning is a pair of shears.

Keep the Linden tree small by strictly pruning back all shrubs and growth, but be careful not to turn the tree into a skeleton through excessive trimming. A border hedge should only need to be trimmed once a year in order to reduce significant growth (although a hedge trimmer can also be used more frequently). A formal box hedge Linden tree will require pruning of leaves and stems about every 3 months.