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Sweet Gum Tree Dropping Branches

Posted on 8/15/19 at 9:55 am
Posted by modes
Member since May 2017
257 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 9:55 am
I have a large mature sweet gum tree right next to my house. In the past few weeks (really since Barry) it has dropped 3 large branches. One hit my roof and caused some damage, the others landed in the yard. The branches are breaking at the trunk of the tree

Should I consider cutting this tree down, or am I just being paranoid?
Posted by Sigma
Fairhope, AL
Member since Dec 2005
3643 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 10:05 am to
Yes, consider cutting it down. They are trash trees anyway, and could be hollow inside.
Posted by Geauxld Finger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
31667 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 12:05 pm to
Definitely think about getting removed

I wouldn’t say they are trash trees at all. They are prone to dropping leaves and debris so I’d never plant it
Posted by The Nino
Member since Jan 2010
21520 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 12:17 pm to
It’s likely healthy. I’ve had several arborists tell me “that’s just what sweet gums do.” With that said, I’d cut it down. All they do is drop leaves, balls and limbs. I have 2 in my backyard that I can’t wait to be removed
Posted by jmon
Mandeville, LA
Member since Oct 2010
8405 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 12:22 pm to
It's a shite tree and you should eradicate your yard of all sweet gum trees and the spiny balls they drop!! Had two fall inn summer storms and made sure the third fell, with a little assistance.

Seriously, it is a shite tree.
Posted by luvdoc
"Please Ignore Our Yelp Reviews"
Member since May 2005
916 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 12:22 pm to
Sweet gum or gumball tree is consistently listed as amongst the most hurricane resistant trees. The gumballs Are a real hassle, but there is a gumball–less version that I have planted in my front yard to provide future shade that is worth hunting down. It is a far narrower tree than the species, though.

LINK ; fruitless tree

LSU hurricane recs:

LINK

LINK
This post was edited on 8/15/19 at 12:38 pm
Posted by BottomlandBrew
Member since Aug 2010
27060 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 12:22 pm to
I've never understood why the "Rotundiloba' cultivar never took off. It's gumball-less and has a form that is pretty ideal for upright street plantings.
Posted by Geauxld Finger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
31667 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 1:03 pm to
I don’t think anyone is growing it. I’d rather that than the litany of shitty swamp red maples that get planted
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 1:07 pm to
quote:

It's a shite tree and you should eradicate your yard of all sweet gum trees


They are. Not good for firewood nor sawing up. Now if one has a black gum, that makes some fine wood off the sawmill.
Posted by luvdoc
"Please Ignore Our Yelp Reviews"
Member since May 2005
916 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 1:09 pm to
I had to order mine on line, receiving a typical 2-3 foot whip in a Coke-can sized pot, but this is its second summer and it is about 7 feet tall with multiple branches, growing like mad. Very happy with that decision.

Tupelos are another great choice for planting near the house in hurricane country. Some strains of the common varieties are sold that have unusual spring and summer foliage color

Both of those choices have great fall colors as well
This post was edited on 8/15/19 at 1:10 pm
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora, Georgia
Member since Sep 2012
63853 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 5:11 pm to
Cut that piece of shite down and plant something useful there. Fruit tree, pretty foliage, catalpa, etc. something with a purpose.
Posted by Pectus
Internet
Member since Apr 2010
67302 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 5:34 pm to
Is this a tree that people normally want the wood for?
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 7:11 pm to
No, not sweet gum. Sawing it up and try to dry it and you would have nothing but warp crap.

Black gum is what wood workers look for.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9774 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 8:02 pm to
I have several mature ones at the back of my yard. I enjoy them.

But if they were dropping branches and next to my house, I'd consider removing them. Maybe call a reputable arbhorist for his opinion. After all trees take a long time to mature.

Posted by shell01
Marianna, FL
Member since Jul 2014
793 posts
Posted on 8/15/19 at 10:34 pm to
quote:

Seriously, it is a shite tree.


Sweetgum are an important food source for wildlife, birds especially. Here I see hummingbirds feeding on the flowers in the spring, migrating warblers eating insects in the fall, and goldfinches and pine siskins getting seeds out of the gumballs all winter long.

And personal experience, we lost over a hundred large trees in Hurricane Michael but the sweetgums faired well. Still have 11 sweet gums over 50' tall along the driveway and others scattered around the property.

That said, OP, large tree dropping branches on your house, probably needs to go.
This post was edited on 8/16/19 at 4:01 pm
Posted by yattan
Member since Nov 2013
897 posts
Posted on 8/16/19 at 8:31 pm to
Sweet gum has more commercial use than any specie. Number one food for wintering birds. Shake the gum ball, the rattling is the seeds. Tree turns a beautiful yellow in the fall. Anyone that calls a gum a trash tree is wrong. The dropping of branches is just natural pruning as all trees do. They are reaching for the sun. Just don’t try to split a gum for fire wood. My favorite tree. I ha
V made a living selling sweet gum. Oh yeah, I am a forester.
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