As a horticulture and landscape gardening expert , I have had my fair share of experience with sweetgum trees and their infamous balls . allow me tell you , they are not the sweet things to deal with in the garden . The question at hand is how often these sweet gum balls decrease , and I can tell you that it varies depending on the specific tree and the environmental conditions .

odorous gumwood trees , also known as Liquidambar styraciflua , are deciduous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree aboriginal to North America . They are known for their distinctive star - shaped leaves and , of course , their spiky yield , normally referred to as sweet gum balls or gum balls . These yield are actually seed pods that check belittled , hard seeds .

The sweet gum balls jump to make in tardy spring or early summertime , usually around May or June , count on the climate . They develop from the distaff flowers of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and take several month to suppurate . ab initio , they are green , but as they ripen , they wrick brown and become harder .

The real falling of the sweet gum balls typically occurs during the fall and wintertime calendar month . It is during this time that the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree sheds its honest-to-god growth in preparation for novel growth in the fountain . The exact timing of when the nut flow can vary , but it is in the main between September and December .

The frequency of odoriferous glue balls fall can depend on a few cistron . Firstly , the age of the tree take on a theatrical role . Younger tree may produce fewer balls compared to mature trees . Additionally , the overall health and vigor of the tree can influence the amount of yield it produces . A healthy , well - keep tree is likely to have a high takings of sweet-smelling gum testis .

Environmental conditions also fare into play . Factors such as temperature , rainfall , and sun can impact the production and falling of the orb . For example , if there is a particularly teetotal spell during the summer months , it may result in a small harvest of sweet gum balls . On the other hand , if the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree receives an abundance of water , it may produce more fruit .

In my personal experience , I have noticed that some years the sweet gum ball seem to be more abundant than others . There have been season where the ground beneath the tree is practically overcompensate with these spikey nuisances , while other age they are relatively scarce . It can be quite unpredictable .

To sum , sweet gumwood globe typically start to form in previous natural spring or other summer and senesce over a few months . The factual falling of the balls pass off during the fall and winter months , in the main between September and December . The frequency of the balls falling can vary depending on the geezerhood and health of the tree diagram , as well as environmental conditions such as temperature and precipitation .

Dealing with mellifluous gum ball can be a challenge , particularly if you have a declamatory tree diagram in your cubic yard . They can be sharp and afflictive to maltreat on , and they can also make a mess when they hoard on the ground . even raking or wholesale can assist to keep them under control , but it ’s an ongoing labor during the fall and winter month .

While the angelical gum tree may not be the sweetest addition to your garden , its balls do suffice a aim in the tree ’s aliveness cycle . By shake off them in the fall and winter , the tree diagram is make for new maturation in the spring . So , next clock time you find yourself cursing the sweet gum balls , remember that they are simply a part of nature ’s plan for the tree ’s replacement .

Caroline Bates