The sweet gum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a popular landscaping choice due to its beautiful fall foliage and stately form. However, these attractive trees also have some significant downsides, especially when planted too close to a home. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of planting a sweet gum near your house so you can make an informed decision.
The Advantages of Sweet Gums
Here are some of the benefits of planting a sweet gum tree on your property
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Gorgeous fall color – The leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, red, purple and orange in autumn. This showy fall display is a standout in any landscape.
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Shade – Sweet gums grow 60-100 feet tall with a canopy spread of 30-50 feet. This makes them excellent shade trees.
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Fast growth – They grow up to 3 feet per year when young, quickly providing shade and fall interest.
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Wildlife habitat – Birds eat the seeds and use the tree for shelter and nesting. The larvae of various moth species feed on the leaves.
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Few pests – Sweet gums are relatively pest and disease resistant. They have fewer problems than many other shade trees.
The Disadvantages of Close Proximity
However, planting a sweet gum too close to your home comes with some significant drawbacks:
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Invasive roots – Sweet gum roots are aggressive and tend to spread widely and grow close to the surface. This can damage sidewalks, patios, septic systems and foundation walls.
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Messy fruits – The spiky seed pods litter the ground in fall and winter They can make areas near the tree uncomfortable for walking barefoot.
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Difficult cleanup – The prickly fruits don’t rake up easily and puncture lawn mower tires Removing sweet gum balls is an annoying, ongoing task.
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Weak wood – Branches break easily in storms. The shallow root system makes the trees prone to toppling in high winds.
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Size – Their massive size makes sweet gums difficult to prune and harvest fruit from when located too close to a home.
Recommended Guidelines
Most experts recommend avoiding planting sweet gum trees within 50 feet of a home’s foundation. To prevent root damage to sidewalks and driveways, allow at least 15 feet of space between the trunk and hardscaping. Make sure overhead power lines are at least 15 feet away, and don’t plant sweet gums under them.
Also consider placement carefully if your septic drainage field is nearby, as the roots can clog and damage the system. Allow ample room between sweet gums and swimming pools, patios and other high-traffic outdoor living spaces.
While sweet gum trees have many merits, their drawbacks make placement decisions especially important. Allow enough distance from your home and infrastructure to prevent problems and costly repairs down the road. With adequate space, you can enjoy their benefits without the hassles. Careful planning will let you successfully integrate these beautiful native trees into your landscape.
Blog Network: Martha’s Circle
It’s no secret that I love planting trees. This year, we’re putting in a lot of beautiful and interesting ones.
My gardeners and I go through the potted seedlings every year and decide where they will go. Some will go in the woods, and others will go in certain spots around my house. I have planted thousands of trees since I purchased my Bedford, New York property. I feel very strongly about giving back to the earth – the more trees planted, the better. The crew planted a group of Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum trees last week in a clearing outside my Northeast paddock and close to my American beech tree grove.
Fast Growing Shade Tree Sweet Gum
FAQ
Do sweetgum trees have invasive roots?
What are the cons of sweet gum trees?
Are sweetgum trees a nuisance?
Do sweetgum trees fall easily?
Where do sweet gum trees grow?
Sweet gum trees are native throughout the eastern U.S. to central Florida and east Texas. The fall color of this tree still develops without cold temperatures in warmer climate areas. A sweet gum grows rapidly, forming a straight, tall trunk early on before becoming broader and functioning as an excellent shade tree.
How do you grow a sweet gum tree?
Plant sweet gum in full sun to partial shade in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. It grows best in neutral to acidic soil that is moist but well-draining. Choose an uncrowded space; these trees need a large area for root development. And place them where their gumballs won’t become annoying when they fall to the ground. Plant sweet gum trees in spring.
What does a sweet gum tree look like?
Sweet gum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua), also called sweetgum trees, are known for their distinctive, five-pointed glossy green leaves that turn yellow, gold, red, pink, and purple in fall, as well as the large number of spikey seed gumballs they produce each year.
What is a sweetgum tree?
Sweetgum trees grow relatively quickly and its fruit attract a wide range of wildlife, from goldfinches, sparrows, and mourning doves, to chipmunks and squirrels. Fun Fact: The sweetgum got its name from the Native American practice of chewing the resin that seeps out from under its bark, as one would chew gum.
Are sweetgum trees worth planting?
Here’s how it works. Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) look spectacular in fall when their leaves turn brilliant shades of scarlet, yellow, orange, or purple. The autumn show continues into late fall and early winter, and these stately shade trees are worth planting just to enjoy this fall color.
Is a sweetgum tree right for your yard?
Keep reading to determine whether one of these trees is right for your yard. You can recognize this tree by its five-pointed, star-shaped leaves and green or brown fruit balls. The sweetgum tree produces a full canopy in the summer which provides plenty of shade, and deep orange, red, and yellow leaves in the fall.