Watering winter linden

• Winter linden origin
• Winter linden care and location
• Pruning winter linden
• Watering winter linden
• Fertilizing winter linden

Winter linden origin

The small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata) is a deciduous tree and belongs to the genus of linden trees in the mallow family. It is one of the most popular deciduous trees in Germany and Europe and, depending on the species, reaches a height of between 15 and 30 meters and can live up to 1000 years. A well-known quote says, "The linden tree comes for 300 years, stands for 300 years and dies for 300 years."
The linden species are divided into summer linden and winter linden. They have more similarities than differences. The winter linden is more common in northern regions than the summer linden. It is found particularly in the foothills of the Alps, the mountains and the Caucasus. In Central Europe, both species are equally represented. The winter linden can be recognized by its steeply upward-pointing branches.

It plays an important role in cultural history and is considered a friend of the people and a lucky charm. The linden tree is mentioned in many old folk texts and songs and countless places, streets and restaurants in Germany have the word linden in their name. The most famous street is the magnificent boulevard "Unter den Linden", where many of Berlin's important sights can be seen and where the first linden trees have been standing since 1647.

The winter linden is a tree of life, because its flowers, leaf buds, honey and fruit are food and are used as therapeutic household remedies, in medicine and cosmetics. The winter linden's flowers appear for the first time in June to August, when they are 20 to 30 years old. They are four to twelve-petalled with a double perianth, yellowish-white, star-shaped and hermaphroditic. The flowers reach a diameter of around 2 cm and hang on a long, narrow bract that carries the ripe fruit through the air.
The leaves are up to five to 6 cm long, heart-shaped, slightly asymmetrical, and sharply serrated. The upper side is shiny dark green and smooth. The underside is bluish green with reddish-brown tufts of hair. The leaves of the winter linden are smaller than those of the summer linden.
The fruits are about 5 to 7 mm long, five-edged and spherical. They have a felty coating and are greenish-yellow in color. They contain oil and can be eaten raw or cooked as a snack or as a salad garnish.
Tea made from linden blossoms is considered to be antipyretic, expectorant, diaphoretic and diuretic.

Winter linden care and location

The perfect location for a winter linden tree is sunny to light partial shade and the soil is calcareous, loose and moist. The trees can reach a crown diameter of 30 m and should not be planted near a building.
The linden tree forms a heart root system with a high proportion of fine roots. Many roots run along the surface of the earth.

Pruning winter linden

In general, linden trees do not require a lot of care. They tolerate pruning without any problems. The best time is autumn before the first frost. Old and rotten branches should be removed and the outer contours should be brought into shape.

Watering winter linden correctly

Due to climate change, it is getting hotter in our regions and is leading to longer dry periods. This has an impact on the environment and especially on the trees. Depending on the location and the climate, watering may be necessary more frequently than in previous years. Linden trees thrive in moist soil, which is why it is important to ensure sufficient moisture. Young linden trees in particular should be watered on hot days in the first few months to ensure they take root properly.
The water requirement of a linden tree depends on several factors such as the length of the dry period and the condition of the tree. For young trees, 75 to 100 liters per watering can be estimated, and for older trees, significantly more. When watering conventionally with a garden hose, there is a risk that the moisture will evaporate or run off before it can reach the roots. For this reason, you can use tree bath watering bags more efficient watering and even saves water. Drip irrigation continuously releases water into the soil and achieves even moisture.
Attaching and filling the water bags is easy and uncomplicated. The bag is placed around the tree trunk like a jacket and closed with a zip. In the next step, you fill the bag with enough water so that after further alignment there are no more wrinkles in the lower area and then let it fill up. By filling an irrigation bag, young trees are provided with enough water. For existing trees with a larger trunk diameter, two, three or more irrigation bags can be connected with a zip to water them.

Fertilizing winter linden

You can book an fertilization The winter linden is no longer necessary when it is older, but young trees benefit from compost or horn shavings in spring and autumn.