The Disadvantages of Sweetgum

GumBalls

• The one flaw that bothers people the most about the sweetgum tree is the hundreds of 1-1/2 inch in diameter, spiky seedpods it drops from early winter to spring. Methods for combating these little gumballs are to remove them through various methods of raking or vacuuming and bagging or attempting a chemical neutering of the tree to prevent fruit formation. When all other solutions fail, removing the tree and replacing it with a fruitless sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua “Rotundiloba”) is an effective permanent method of solving the gumball problem.

Size

• A full-grown sweetgun can reach heights of 75 feet or more and have a canopy spread of at least 50 feet. Unfortunately, for many urban locations, the sheer size of the tree can pose problems. The dense shade often chokes out any grass or understory plantings, making it hard to grow anything under the tree. Homeowners planting the sweetgum should decide for alternative uses such as a sitting area or even a children’s play place underneath the tree. In addition, the height and width can cause damage to buildings, power lines or other obstructions it meets. The only remedy in this case is to remove the tree and plant a smaller, more suitable tree for the location.

Root System

• The sweetgum has a shallow, invasive root system. The large roots break sidewalks, curbing, foundations and driveways in urban areas and produces rapidly growing suckers that are difficult to remove. In planted locations, the top-feeding roots compete with other types of plantings for the moisture and generally win, resulting in death or decline for the rest. The shallow root system also means the sweetgum is very susceptible to prolonged periods of drought, requiring supplemental irrigation during extended dry periods. The only working solution for any of these issues is properly to locate the tree into locations large enough to support it. Remember the average rule for tree root spread is twice the height of the tree.

Brittle

• The trunk and limb structure of the sweetgum is very brittle, making them easy to break off in foul weather. Heavy snow or ice storms can cause severe breakage of the limbs and high-speed windstorms can snap tree trunks in half. When planted in milder climates, this brittleness does not present as much of a problem. Homeowners only need to clean up small broken limbs on occasion but those in more harsh-weathered climates should take this brittleness into consideration before planting a sweetgum.