TOO MANY Liquidambar styraciflua

marcia

Hi - my husband and I live in san fran bay area, but inland (we are 10-15 miles from the bay as the crow flies!) We just bought a home that is 30 years old; and in the back yard the original owners planted SIX Liquidambar styraciflua in a straight line along the back fence; which is 40-50 feet long. These are the trees with the lovely color in the fall and the wicked little balls that fall off and can hurt if you walk on them.... The roots have begun to force up a portion of the concrete patio; and grass won't grow around the trees. The redeeming quality of these trees will be (of course) the fall color; and certainly the shade that they provide in the back of the house helps keep us cool in the summer and fall. But they planted SO MANY! I'd love to cut one or two of them down; or perhaps learn to garden with them (need lots of shade plants and vines)...but want to find out best options. Does anyone have experience with these trees; best way to deal with them, or should I just cut them down and re-plant something I would love. I seriously dislike the vicious little balls; have already stepped on them several times and hate the lack of grass...anyone have any experience or advice?

treeseer

Sweetgum are dominant here. You can garden under them by raising the grade with porous soil, maybe build raised beds.. They are great props for the Right vines. Wide garden/mulch areas make the gumballs less of a nuisance.

If you want grass and no gumballs there is only the ultimate solution...

They have so many strong attributes, the nuisances are worth them imo.

TrevMcRev

Treeseer, have you had any experience with treatments for early flower drop on these?

treeseer

I would be a very busy guy if i could abort the gumball formation. No reliable treatment i know of.

"Florel" has worked somewhat sometimes.