The leaves on a number of branches on my linden tree are yellow. I also noticed galls on some of the leaves. I've only watered the tree lightly a couple of times. What is the problem and is there anything I can do to stop it?

Dear patrick: Galls typically are caused by an insect using the leaf as an egg laying site and is not life threatening to the tree. Treatments are normally not warranted.

Yellow leaves can be the result of the tree dealing with a change in weather, lots of water then it drys out. The tree is balancing the number of leaves to the available water. The tree will remove the nutrients from the leaf, leaving the yellow color you see.

You may want to consider a spring fertilization next year, suppliment natural rain with watering during August and September when it is typically hot and dry. You can start the watering yet this season and water the tree well late in the year in November to ensure lots of moisture in the soil for the winter.

I hope this information is helpful, Richard