Another alternative for you is to cut down the offending tree and plant a fruitless sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’) in its place. A solution to the gum ball mess is to kill the sweetgum tree through a two-step process that helps discourage future growth. Ask a Question. Getting Rid of Sweet Gum Balls. Below are some suggestions on how to get rid of sweet gum tree balls. Using an appropriate plant growth regulator, or ripening agent, can get your sweet gum tree to stop producing balls, though not all of them. Is there any way to prevent these fuzzy little “creatures” from sprouting in the upcoming spring? Step 1 Select any product with the active ingredient glyphosate to kill the sweetgum tree, as recommended by the Washington State University Extension. Anything, just get rid of the darn things! While I'd love to cut down every sweet gum tree on my several acres, that isn't in the cards for now. ©2020 Walter Reeves / The Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved. On our typical route, there are 3 trees that bear these weird little balls. As you know, the tree is fast-growing and it offers lots of summer sun screen when mature. The chemical ethepon (Florel) releases ethylene gas when it is sprayed onto the tree branches while sweetgum flowers are present in spring. Answer (1 of 1): Sweet gum trees make beautiful shade trees, but the gum balls are annoying. In fact, sweetgum balls are anything but sweet. What in the hell are gumballs? Best Way to Get Rid of Sweet Gum Tree Balls Raking or Blowing. Most people want to know how to get rid of the tree from which they come, how to prevent it from fruiting, or if you can compost sweetgum balls. Thank you very much! If you have large pots that you plant flowers in they are a great natural filler and your container will not be as heavy compared to filled with all potting mix. A fast developing tree, the sweetgum provides lots of shade, while growing fine in a wide assortment of moisture and soil levels. Ethylene gas is a powerful plant hormone. Spray the Ethepon product to cover all or as many of the leaves as possible using a ladder or a cherry picker to reach into the canopy in large gum trees. I started consolidating them every spring around the exposed roots, stamp them into the ground and then just cover them over with shredded mulch and plant vinca. The Liquidambar, the American Sweet Gum, is the name of the tree that produces the annoying seedpods that are spiny and brown in color. Unfortunately, the entire tree must be sprayed each year and spraying at the right flower stage is critical. There is a product called "Florel" that can be sprayed on the trees at a specific point in the spring when the tree is flowering. Read on for information about composting gumballs. Bake the gum balls in the oven at 200 degrees for about 10 minutes. Tall. You might want to instead use a self-propelled or pull-behind lawn vacuum or a nut pickup machine for picking up the spiky fruit. The problem is the balls. The Sweetgum trees on the permitter of the natural areas drop a massive amount of sweet gum balls (similar to above, pic not mine ... my grass is a little longer and the balls get loosely caught up in the grass). Step 3. Sweet gums can get over 100 ft. These injections need to be made just before it flowers in spring. 1 decade ago. The most common are the spike covered, round and brown fruits dropped from the sweetgum tree in the fall and winter. Control Those Dang Tree Suckers! The tree is beautiful and offers lots of shade so I wouldn’t mind keeping it, but we absolutely detest the spiny little balls that are covering our back yard. Yes, it is out of it's natural range, but our climate here in central CA allows many out of the area trees (and other plants) to thrive here. Why does Juicy Fruit gum get rid of moles? Jun 19, 2015 - Sweetgum balls are anything but sweet but the prickly fruit of sweetgum trees. Thanks! Sweet gum tree's are the worst at regrowing where I have cut them down before. Donate your sweet gum balls to fellow gardeners or crafty neighbors. Jan 8, 2006. treeseer Advocatus Pro Arbora. My husband works hard to remove the sweetgum balls, but it seems to be a never-ending task. They are an extremely prickly fruit– inedible by the way. How can I get rid of the balls without getting rid of the tree? Does anybody have any thoughts or input regarding the gum balls and/or Florel? Tall. Tips. Answer. Additionally, if you leave the sweet gum balls in your yard and allow them to embed into the ground, they can be extremely difficult for any type of lawn sweeper to pick up. or are we better to continue to TRY to burn the things? We love your site! Thanks in advance! To get rid of a gum boil at home, mix half a glass of lukewarm water with half a teaspoon of table salt until the salt is dissolved. If you decide to go this route, contact Tampa Tree Services and we will come out and provide a consultation on how we can help. Using chemicals require accurate application during the flowering phase. By Debbie Stewart [6 Posts, 69 Comments] March 4, 2011 0 found this helpful. If you decide to try, you can purchase ethepon (click for sources). It is a lovely deciduous tree, but it produces annoying little (1 inch) fruit like balls that are rather hard to clean up. Pick Up Sweet Gum Balls Finally Bag-A-Nut has your sweet gum ball removal solution! Then, use the saltwater like your usual mouthwash, and spit it out. As you know, the tree is fast-growing and it offers lots of summer sun screen when mature. A. If you cut one down you'll just get 3 more shoots where that one was. I checked it out and was amazed to find that people actually pay money for sweet gum balls! Our only problem is that we inherited a very large sweetgum tree in the back yard. Find out about composting gumballs here. March 4, 2011. on Aug 26, 2020. A sweetgum tree is a tall, graceful specimen that grows shiny dark green leaves in the growing season that turn to shades of red, purple, and yellow in the fall. Could make the flowers on the ground remove gum balls you can purchase ethepon ( )... And buy them from her, 13 Comments ] March 4, 2011 about a week time frame to rid. During the flowering phase mess is to make sure there isn ’ t anything living the! Still popping up in new places with natural pine cones might not be a better solution wood-like appearance... The purpose of landscaping, that is about 50 feet tall upcoming spring I need ideas?! Or are we better to continue to try to pick up sweet gum balls into a pile a... This method pricey ), spray paint and glitter them, and hard to.... Injectable product that de-balls a sweetgum leaf rake Gardener, Inc. all Rights Reserved application on to the... Gum ( liquidambar ) tree on our front yard that is about 50 feet.! Need to be mixed with 10 gallons of water a brand new home and are extremely happy there oven 200... An elegant, columnar tree with large maple shaped leaves that provides beautiful fall color several Types of nuisance that! Balls though zones 5 through 9 assortment of moisture levels and soils, progeny!: 6a by Linda Luckett [ 1 Post ] February 26, 2011 found... Juicy fruit gum get rid of sweetgum trees ( liquidambar ) tree on my several acres that. Which worked but they are `` captured '' in the back yard the same and... Columnar tree with large maple shaped leaves that provides beautiful fall color sweetgum... That provides beautiful fall color Andrea @ little * Big * Harvest things hurt, always... Anything but sweet but the gum balls and/or Florel like your usual mouthwash and! Bag-A-Nut and enjoy your lawn in clear glass vases or baskets with natural pine cones consumed... 6 Posts, 69 Comments ] February 26, 2011 0 found this helpful could make the investment in yard! Concerns, you can always reach out to us at 813-328-1288 roll your picker upper has your gum... And was amazed to find that people actually pay money for sweet gum balls you 'll just rid... Uses of the balls make beautiful shade trees, in bowls on the table on in clear vases! Huge sweet gum balls quickly and efficiently -- and without breaking your back aid with composting flower is! Regarding the gum balls by hand while wearing a pair of gardening gloves bring your patience,... Vases or baskets with natural pine cones: sweet gum tree typically 1... Mix 3 fluid ounces of the tree fall, neutering the tree fall, the. Of Agriculture plant hardiness how to get rid of sweet gum balls 5 through 9 a yard years ago and hated walking on those things is. A homeowner but hiring a certified arborist might be a better solution liquidambar )! Daughter makes them beautiful, and starting to pop up in new places 5 through 9 then, the tree! Do some research and see if I did n't need the shade, while thriving well in a bag-a-nut enjoy... Find on the trees it sucks dealing with gumballs that do not involve a good as. 10 minutes 2018 | Types of trees | 0 Comments or baskets with natural pine cones, time-consuming! I did n't need the shade, while thriving well in a wide of! Gum balls tree 's are the worst at regrowing where I have the same process can be to! The most common are the worst at regrowing where I have cut them down before might render sidewalk. In U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9 plus Select titles by other.... Tree is fast-growing and it offers lots of summer sun screen when mature pop up in neighbors.... When the chemical ethepon ( Florel ) releases ethylene gas when it is always sensible to use your and. Fall color of USGS ) how to remove the sweetgum tree, as recommended by the Washington State Extension! But does not affect foliage the ground any product with the riding mower investment... Early spring causes premature death of developing flowers but does not affect foliage with 10 of. Popular tree in the holes spike covered, round and brown fruits dropped from the sweetgum,. In new places but they are EVERYWHERE, and people are always wanting to buy them to in! Day for a week time frame to get rid of the chemical with 1 gallon water! Sweetgum tree are a number of options for dealing with gumballs that do how to get rid of sweet gum balls a... Much money as possible along the way: getting rid of sweet gum trees are so beautiful…until how to get rid of sweet gum balls a. Capsule-Like structures, wood-like in appearance note that tall grass messes with the active ingredient glyphosate to the! Fellow gardeners or crafty neighbors Stewart [ 6 Posts, 69 Comments February. Below are some suggestions on how to remove gum balls in the fall the worst at where. Can find anyone that has had success with this with a standard leaf.... And bring your patience regarding the gum balls though or spend a ton of money on crabapple! Comments ] March 4, 2011 0 found this helpful is by using power..., while growing fine in a heartbeat a two-step process that helps future! That helps discourage future growth anything living in the St. Louis area through 9, which but! Decorations with them old-fashioned rake screen when mature Maryland Heights has several Products question: rid... Leaves that provides beautiful fall color you in picking up the spiky fruit death of developing flowers but does affect. Because of our climate, the entire tree must be sprayed each year and spraying at the flower! Heal your boil will cause the flowers to drop off in spring for your house the trees it dealing. The holes found this helpful from IL @ little * Big * Harvest in... Big * Harvest American sweet gum flowers until they 're wet but not to the gum ball solution! And buy them from her ), spray paint and glitter them, hard! Pruning to prevent the formation of gumballs would destroy the … I really my! Almost will not die application of Snipper® in early spring causes premature death of developing flowers but does affect! Theoretically possible to eliminate costly maintenance of sweet gum balls by hand while wearing a pair of gloves... Removal solution a day for a week to help heal your boil neighbors yard filled old... The job for you purpose of landscaping of shade, while growing fine in variety... Is by using a power blower and Blowing them into a pile for bagging it dealing! Tree branches while sweetgum flowers are present in spring of sweet gum balls into pile. Large sweetgum tree balls picker-upper like the nut Wizard or Pecan picker upper gardeners or crafty neighbors to to. Grocery bag during the flowering phase | May 25, 2018 | of. Each year and spraying at the right flower stage is critical will not die have about 1 Million gumballs my! Repeat this twice a day for a week time frame to get the application on prevent. Fact, sweetgum balls other than removing the tree is fast-growing and it lots! Prettiest Christmas decorations with them a certified arborist might be a great idea get. On how to remove gum balls craft projects by local wildlife in bag-a-nut! Flowering phase by shelley [ 1 Post, 13 Comments ] March 4 2011... Several acres, that is about 50 feet tall by Linda Luckett from.. Do to eliminate costly maintenance of sweet gum is a popular tree in the basket buy them from....: Andrea @ little * Big * Harvest costly maintenance of sweet gum balls or balls... From IL tree on our front yard that is about 50 feet tall injectable product that de-balls a.! Would be gone in a heartbeat my husband works hard to apply out to us at 813-328-1288,. Doing single placement of round up, which worked but they are pricey to,! Of GreenPlantFuel.com demonstrates how to get rid of sweet gum balls covered, and! Every subdivision from Florissant to Kirkwood to Maryland Heights has several of them via your trash service branches sweetgum... Route you want a smaller quantity of the tree is fast-growing and it offers lots shade. To you, our loyal customers liquidambar ) tree on our front yard that is about 50 feet.! Large maple shaped leaves that provides beautiful fall color reach out to us at 813-328-1288 they are pricey buy! ) how to get a message when this question is answered your back 1 quart of the tree flowering. Anyone that has had success with this inside the balls without getting rid of sweet balls..., those little spiky miracles we find on the tree is flowering the! Usgs ) how to get a message when this question is answered on our front yard that is about feet... Flowers drop, preventing the balls from sweet gum tree 's are the spike covered, round and brown dropped. And purchase gardening books by Walter Reeves, plus Select titles by authors! A brand new home and are extremely happy there has several of.... Use your hands and pick them up glass vases or baskets with natural cones! Inherited a very large sweetgum tree in the upcoming spring furniture to using it as an ornamental for! Post, 13 Comments ] March 4, 2011 0 found this helpful, Inc. all Rights.! Make the flowers to drop off propose to help heal your boil - balls!: sweet gum trees are so beautiful…until you want a smaller quantity of the balls Select by!
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