With the small-leaved lime, a tree will find its way into your garden for eternity, because an age of 1,000 years is not uncommon. It's not just the characteristic crown shape that touches our hearts. The tree gives us seductively fragrant blossoms, shapely leaves and golden yellow autumn colours. All relevant details about professional cultivation are specified in the following answers to frequently asked questions.

The small-leaved lime was named tree of the year in 2016

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant small-leaved lime properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. When is flowering time?
  7. Prune the small-leaved lime properly
  8. water the small-leaved lime
  9. Fertilize small-leaved lime properly
  10. pests
  11. hibernate
  12. propagate small-leaved lime
  13. How do I plant correctly?
  14. Is Small-leaved Lime Poisonous?
  15. Small-leaved lime does not bloom
  16. How do small-leaved lime and small-leaved lime differ?
  17. trivia

    18. Plant small-leaved lime properly

    Planting time for the small-leaved lime is in spring or autumn. Loosen the soil deeply to remove stones, roots and weeds. Dig a spacious planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball. Place the excavation in a wheelbarrow to mix with compost and horn shavings (€32.93). Place the young tree in the middle of the hole and open the bale cloth. While a helping hand holds the trunk, drive a support stake into the ground without damaging the roots. Now fill the cavities with the enriched substrate so that the root ball ends flush with the surface of the earth. Now connect the trunk and support pole with a rope in eight-shaped loops. The material must not cut into the young tissue. Before you water the tree, create a small watering edge. A plant pruning is not necessary on stone lime trees.

    care tips

    The care program for a small-leaved lime can be easily managed without extensive gardening experience. The following brief overview conveys all important aspects:

    • Water a young tree regularly when the soil has dried
    • Only water adult specimens during summer drought; Penetrating 1-2 times a week
    • Start fertilizing with compost and horn shavings in March/April for the first 2-3 years
    • Pruning and thinning out during the leafless period between November and March

    The tree does not need winter protection because it is completely frost hardy. Since this winter hardiness only develops gradually, cover the root disc thickly with leaves and brushwood in the year of planting. In the following years you leave the fallen leaves as a natural winter protection, which at the same time releases valuable nutrients to the roots.

    Which location is suitable?

    The small-leaved lime finds excellent living conditions in a sunny to partially shaded location. The powerful central root system spreads optimally in well-drained, nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil. A sandy-loamy, fresh and not too moist structure meets the wishes of the generation tree very well.
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    The right planting distance

    In order to properly measure the planting distance of a small-leaved lime, various aspects are relevant. The distance to buildings ideally corresponds to the expected height of growth. If a limitation of the height by means of regular cutting measures is planned, this target value is used as a basis. Otherwise we recommend a distance of 15-25 meters. In a spacious garden or park, half the growth width has proven to be a suitable planting distance. For this type of tree, a distance of 5 to 8 meters applies in each direction. The appropriate distance to neighbors is determined by the neighborhood law, which is regulated separately in each federal state. Ask the building or public order office about the regional regulations.

    What soil does the plant need?

    The small-leaved lime prefers a not too moist, well-drained soil. A high content of nutrients is beneficial for vitality and abundance of flowers. So keep an eye out for a spot with sandy, loamy and loose, humus-rich soil. A slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH of 6.5 to 8 is desirable; however, does not represent a mandatory requirement for the soil conditions.

    When is flowering time?

    Anyone who has such a long tree life ahead of them takes it easy. This applies not least to the flowering period. It takes 10 to 20 years before a small-leaved lime presents itself in its yellowish-white blossoms for the first time. This test of patience is nevertheless rewarded with a summer flowering period from June to July, when other trees have long since withered. In addition, the countless umbel-like flowers exude a wonderful honey scent, much to the delight of bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
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    Prune the small-leaved lime properly

    Their compatibility with cuts is legendary. A small-leaf linden will accept even a radical pruning back into the old wood without complaint. How to prune the tree with expertise:

    • Choose a date between November and March, on an overcast, frost-free day
    • Prune branches that are too long, making each cut just above an outward leaf node
    • Then thin out the crown thoroughly by cutting off dead wood on the branch
    • Also remove diseased, rubbing and inward branches

    In the first step, saw off thick branches about 10 cm from the trunk from above, in order to then cut them off completely from below. To remove the remaining stub, do not cut into the stem bark, but leave a small collar.

    water the small-leaved lime

    Freshly planted small-leaved limes are thirsty companions. Therefore, water a young tree regularly and thoroughly. With increasing age, the need for water decreases. Once the heart root system has established itself, it is best to water during a hot summer period. Otherwise, the magnificent tree is satisfied with the natural rainfall.

    Fertilize small-leaved lime properly

    In the first 2-3 years, the young tree is grateful for a little organic power food at the start of the growing season. In March/April, work the compost and horn shavings (€32.93) superficially into the soil of the root disk with a rake. Then pour generously. An adult small-leaved lime then procures its nutrients on its own by means of its powerful root system.

    pests

    Unfortunately, one of the most resistant pests also has its sights set on the small-leaved lime. It is the winter moth, a brown butterfly mottled with yellow with a wingspan of up to 38 mm. It is not the adult moths that damage the tree. Rather, their larvae hatch in the spring and attack the delicate leaves and flowers. An unmistakable symptom - in addition to the feeding marks - are the fine webs with which the brood binds leaves and blossoms together. Take action against the pests with Neudorff caterpillars, Spruzit or neem seeds. Wrap additional rings of glue around the trunk and support post.

    hibernate

    The small-leaved lime sheds its leaves in late autumn and comes through the cold season unscathed. Special precautions for hibernation are therefore not necessary. In the year of planting, the frost hardiness has not yet fully developed. We therefore recommend thickly covering the root disc on a young tree with autumn leaves and brushwood.

    propagate small-leaved lime

    The generative propagation by sowing proves to be complex and delicate for stone lime trees. Since by no means every nut fruit actually contains seeds, the germination rate is at a low level. In addition, it requires additional measures to break the germination inhibition of the hard-shelled cold germs. File the seed coat a little and place the seeds in a bag of damp sand in the crisper of the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Then sow the seeds in small pots with lean substrate. In contrast, breeding offspring with the help of cuttings is much less complicated. To do this, cut non-flowering head cuttings in summer. These are defoliated in the lower half and either placed directly in the ground or nurtured in a pot with potting soil for a few months.

    How do I plant correctly?

    In the first 5 years, a change of location for the small-leaved lime is possible without any problems. The tree first develops a shallow root system, only to later penetrate into the deeper soil. In the spring, cut off the root disc all around with a spade, whereby the diameter is about two thirds of the current growth height. Fill the resulting furrow with loose humus soil and water regularly throughout the summer. By autumn, numerous new fine roots have formed at the root ends, so that you can now lift the ball out of the ground. If possible, keep the previous planting depth at the new location.

    Is Small-leaved Lime Poisonous?

    The small-leaved lime is not poisonous. The tree poses no health risk to humans or animals. Instead, we owe the aromatic linden blossom honey to the wonderfully fragrant blossoms. Prepared as a tea, the flowers relieve colds, explicitly alleviating a tormenting urge to cough.

    Small-leaved lime does not bloom

    In the first 10 to 20 years we have to be patient, because the small-leaved lime rarely puts on its blossoms beforehand. If the tree still does not flower, there is a high probability of root competition from older trees. These remove nutrients and water from the soil, so that the stone lime tree has to be satisfied with the meager rest. In this case, water regularly and administer a mineral-organic slow-release fertilizer in March/April and June.

    How do small-leaved lime and small-leaved lime differ?

    There are two obvious differences between the two tree species for hobby gardeners. Small-leaved lindens reach a height of up to 40 meters, which is significantly higher than small-leaved lindens, which reach a maximum of 25 meters towards the sky. Furthermore, the heart-shaped leaves of a small-leaved lime, 10-18 cm long, are noticeably larger than the smaller, 6-12 cm, small-leaved lime leaves.
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    trivia

    The small-leaf linden is not only a mythical symbol of love thanks to its heart-shaped crown. In addition, the tree symbolizes hospitality in its most beautiful form. It is therefore not surprising that the most common name for inns is 'Zur Linde'. In addition, countless names of people, places and streets refer to the Linde, such as the legendary boulevard in Berlin 'Unter den Linden'.

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