Sweet Gum Tree Spiky Balls

Just like leaves they must fall so the tree can prep for new growth.

Sweet gum tree spiky balls. When do sweetgum tree balls fall. Sweet gum trees are excellent shade trees. The fragrant leaves are green in the summer and brilliant. Hundreds more lie scattered throughout the grass and spill out onto the alleyway asphalt where most are flattened by car wheels.

Six great things to use sweetgum balls for. Are sweet gum tree balls harmful to a dog s feet. The spiny fruit may be used in crafts projects or as mulch to deter rabbits in the. By mid fall the balls are dead and seedless.

Dec 5 2015 explore paula searls s board sweet gum spiky balls crafts followed by 107 people on pinterest. The spiky clusters are actually balls of fruit with tiny seeds inside that birds and squirrels snack on. On this early spring day the tree is still a skeleton although leaf buds are just beginning to emerge and dozens of sweet gum balls dangle from its naked branches like shriveled christmas tree ornaments. See more ideas about sweet gum crafts sweet gum tree crafts.

Sweet gum has glossy green leaves with five lobes similar to a sugar maple. The sweetgum liquidambar styracifua is a tall elegantly shaped tree that grows in u s. Summer shade and vibrant fall leaf color are merits of the sweet gum tree liquidambar styraciflua. The best method for removing sweetgum balls from the lawn.

The spiky seed pods from the sweetgum tree are not only fascinating to look at they can actually help out in the garden. American sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua also known as american storax hazel pine bilsted redgum satin walnut star leaved gum alligatorwood or simply sweetgum is a deciduous tree in the genus liquidambar native to warm temperate areas of eastern north america and tropical montane regions of mexico and central america sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the. The only difference is sweetgum balls drop all fall and winter. Fall color is variable but can be quite dramatic with a combination of yellows reds and purples.

Go out with a bucket and fill it with seed pods and in the spring you may just use some. The tradeoff for these perks is a source of aggravation for some gardeners. The spiky gum balls of the sweet gum tree are annoying to anyone who steps on them. A forty foot tall sweet gum tree rises from the northeast corner of my back yard.

It produces spiny brown balls of fruit that drop off the tree over an extended period. Chemical treatments however can stop a tree s fruit production which keeps the lawn free of that litter. Although they may look like prickly little seeds sweet gum tree balls are actually the fruit of the.