sweet gum tree

when to prune it?

I never thought about "when". I just pruned mine last week.
The branches were hanging too low and interfered with mowing the lawn.
Andy P

I always stand by the belief of pruning in late winter, that way it has the next growing season the heal the wound.

If you get a chance - root prune it too. The 'dwarf' version sent roots under our concrete driveway and completely ruined it. The tree was only about 15' tall but they have many surface roots. They heaved and cracked the whole pad in 1 wet winter.

Thanks everybody! I feel like the gladiator is waiting under the tree when I go under it. It has those balls with the spikes. ouch:( ! Actually the tree is at my job, and it is pretty tall. Alyrics do you know how to root prune?

Wouldn't root pruning make it unstable in high winds?

Bluebird, you probably should direct your technical questions about this tree to Lucky. He's the world's foremost authority on the genus and has spent a lot of time "pruning" them. I keep waiting for him to introduce a cultivar from his research. We're very fortunate ("lucky"?) to have his expertise on this forum!

Guy S.

I know some people don't like sweetgum trees because of those annoying balls, but coming from a hurricane area I can say that they are tough as nails. Most of them around here came out of the storms without a scratch on them. The down side to having too many in the north is the gypsy moths, which apparently love them.

Bluebird - go ahead and check with Lucky. I don't exactly know who that is, LOL but if he's into Liquidambar styraciflua there can't be much more to say.... Exactly.

Root pruning is easy. You take a shovel and sink it around the dripline of the tree or shrub to keep it from spreading out. If its a big tree its probably already too late or you'll have to go out farther to the fine roots. You don't want to cut into any substantial sized root for fear of damaging the tree.

Guy,
My favorite selection is a toss-up between the one with the brown, crispy leaves, or the 'nude' (leafless) selection, which really showcases the corky, winged nature of the twigs.
Bwuaa-ha-ha-ha

thanks again everyone. lucky I dont know what you are talking about?

That's cuz you're still new here (and welcome aboard!).
Lucky HATES sweetgums so we take every opportunity to tease him about them!

Guy S.