What's wrong with my plant? : Garden : University of Minnesota Extension

Basswood/Linden > Trunk/Branches > Thinning canopy

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Affected trees are often stunted, exhibit poor summer color, change color and lose their leaves early in the fall
Affected trees commonly exhibit water-stress symptoms such as marginal leaf scorch, wilting, sudden leaf fall
Affected trees commonly exhibit excessive and abnormal winter damage including true frost cracks and dieback
A root circling or running against one or more sides of the trunk of the tree may be seen at the soil line
The trunk may become sunken in or compressed where it contacts the root
If the girdling root is below ground, the trunk will lack the natural widening or flare at the soil line so will go straight into the earth like a telephone pole; trees often exhibit an abnormal lean
Many weak young shoots/sprouts at the base of the tree
Trees break off at the soil line during wind storms
More information on Stem girdling roots

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Thinning of the canopy
Lower branches, lower trunk and surface roots are attacked resulting in limbs in canopy dying; eventually the entire tree is killed after high infestation
Round exit holes ¼ inch wide in trunk
Adults up to ¾ to 7/8 inch long, longhorns, black body covered by dense olive-yellow hairs; larvae are legless, cylindrical and 7/8 to 1 inch long
Littleleaf lindens are preferred hosts
More information on Linden borer

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Defoliation usually occurs when infestation is high resulting in a thin canopy
Buds are attacked resulting in bud drop or deformed, ragged appearance of new leaves in spring
Typically a forest pest, usually not a landscape problem
American basswood is primary host
More information on Introduced basswood thrips