I heard a story a while back the wood was being sold overseas for making chopsticks. Hi, thanks for looking! Sweet Gum Tree is the name given to the solo work of Loire-Valley based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Arno Sojo. But did you know you could possibly earn some money by selling them? wow great tip there about tracks... didn't know that! Second, a timber stand's value is dependent on the species, sizes, and qualities of the trees growing in it. If an appropriate space is available, check out the cold-hardy cultivar, 'Moraine', which is recommended for northern Illinois. Five years ago our street was flooded for about a week (from back to back hurricanes), and the tree really hasn't been the same since. Mostly because of its value to wildlife, the sweetgum, so-called because of the gummy substance exuded from its bark, is one of my favorite trees. The tree also serves as host plant for more than 30 species of moths and butterflies. Sweet Gum is a troublesome wood to work with because of its tendency to twist and move, but the effort can be worth it for some uses. As a recent deer steward level 2 graduate I am just getting my feet wet when it comes to herbicide applications. What's worse, these sweet gum balls (again, not to be confused with sweet gumballs!) Deprived of their seeds, dried-out sweetgum balls will drop steadily from tree limbs through the winter. The owner declared that it took the entire family two weeks every year to pick up only the majority of balls. I'd definitely recommend them and they'll be the first folks I reach out to the next time I need anything tree-related. These puppies are 25-30" and will be bucked and … We finally got rid of the sweet gum tree in our yard. Sweet Gum Tree I have a 20-year-old sweet gum, approximately 50' tall, with leaves out fully at the top but sparse at lower branches. A guy I work with just had a huge sweet gum tree fall next to his house. My husband hated it from day one (we've been in the house 2 years now) and finally paid to have it cut down. bad tendency to warp and curl really bad? The moon will be full Tuesday. Sweet gum trees are easy to maintain once mature, but do require some basic care to keep the tree healthy and vibrant. My question is, is sweet gum lumber worth a darn? I saw a yard once that was bordered by 12 sweet gum trees. http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/gum.htm, https://www.facebook.com/beasleyturnings/, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Well seing we don't have a crane to lift this log, it will prob be spalted by the time we get it on the trailer, geta mule or a horse - they will pull the biggie. My question is, is sweet gum lumber worth a darn? Sweet gum trees are found throughout the eastern United States. I own the ugliest sweet gum I’ve ever seen. After periods of rain mushrooms appear along large surface roots; from the list of sweet gum diseases these … And this is the tree that inspired Sir Joseph Banks to call them Gum trees. Sweet-gum is known for its unique star-shaped leaves with outstanding yellow, red, and purple fall color. The bottom of the base is about 4' from side to side. The only thing I know for sure sweetgum is used for here in the south is cross ties for the rail road tracks. It can be an excellent shade tree in the right location, away from foot traffic where the spiky "gumball" fruits will not be an annoyance. Sweet Gum Healing. EDIT: I think if clarity is the goal, photos of what trees are getting what service might be worth exploring. read more. Ruby-throated hummingbirds sip nectar from it during the spring. An array of birds and other wildlife, though, will open up the fruits on their own to feast on the seeds — a valuable food source for the creatures in fall and winter. The sweet gum grows in a long list of states, thinning to a more patchy distribution as it spreads southward into Mexico and Central America. (Wikipedia / Creative Commons). The Sweet Gum tree is the sand spur of the forest. Wanna take that saw for a sweet gum test drive? Has anyone ever milled any sweet gum on here and is it worth all the work or would it be a waste of money? Q. Perhaps it is time for some rehabilitation. I particularly enjoy watching Carolina chickadees this time of year, probing the gumballs with their bills and using amazing acrobatic skills to get to the seeds. Sweet gum seeds are eaten by many species of birds, including goldfinch, purple finch, sparrows, mourning doves, wild turkey, northern bobwhite, and wood duck, as well as by squirrels and chipmunks. However, not everyone feels the same way. It takes the sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature enough to produce its fruit. In the fall, little holes appear in the ripe fruits to release the seeds. :laughing: Hey Marko, all kidding aside, what are your mill rates. … Well seing we don't have a crane to lift this log, it will prob be spalted by the time we get it on the trailer..ha ha. It is so valuable in fact, forestry officials are often called in to track down Black Walnut poachers. Facts on the Sweet Gum Tree. Hey Marko, I noticed you're in Shootin Creek, Thats only about an hour and a half away from me and the tree. We offer affordable bare root American Sweetgum trees and many others trees shipped at the best time for planting where you live. The gumballs can be unpleasant to walk on; if wet, they can be slippery and hazardous. Sweet gum is a larval host plant for the beautiful luna moth. If you have sweet gum ball trees on your property, you might see the seeds as a huge nuisance. Although this tree normally grows on rich, moist soils in the wild, it has proven itself quite adaptable in culture. Are Sweet Gum trees hardwood and are they good to burn in wood stoves? If your sweet gum is too tall to spray, or if you don't want to attempt spraying a small tree, you can stop fruit production by having a certified arborist administer a trunk injection. I looked on the internet and loved the beautiful grain and colors of it but I heard that it has a bad tendency to warp and curl really bad? Sweet Gums - Worth? Some even hate the tree. Looking to start to clean out some woods in front of the new place. In splitting it for the fireplace though, I noticed that the grain tends to spiral around the tree instead of running strait. February 14, 2010 Hey Guys, My Father in Law has several Sweet Gum (Liquid Amber ?) However, not all trees turn red in autumn (the large majority are evergreen here due to the relatively warm temperatures in winter/autumn), so I really need to propagate this particular tree. By the way, how long does it take to dry sweet gum (air dry), and how do you let it spalt? I dont know their drying process. Calculation: local estimate for a 2" tree is approximately $300(your local estimate may vary a little) the cross section is 3.1 Base Value is 300 / 3.1= $96.77 sweet gum (cost of tree and installation) Cross section: 24" = approx 452.4(this would be your replacement tree size) (remember this is a big tree, and this is an estimate, usually a tree that size would not be replaced with one of the same size but … Click to expand... About as good ... (I've had to literally peel apart rounds with a splitter, big ones won't split) than it's worth unless you don't have anything else or the only other thing you have available is oak that won't be seasoned for two years. Growing sweet gum tree: Transplant when young -- the sweet gum resents root disturbance when it matures. In the sky: From David Dundee, Tellus Science Center astronomer: The Geminid meteor shower, visible all next week, will peak at 50 meteors per hour Wednesday night. moist alluvial bottomland soils. Trees are the backbone of any good landscape plan. I also love the sweetgum’s stateliness (80 to 100 feet tall), star-shaped leaves, beautiful fall colors and summertime shadiness. By the way, how long does it take to dry sweet gum (air dry), and how do you let it spalt? I would venture to guess that about 1/2 of the trees in there are sweet gums. To me, though, the sweetgum’s value for wildlife far outweighs its disadvantages. They can simply be an eyesore and a pain to deal with. Sweet gum fruits are spiky green balls that turn brown through winter and fall to the ground November through May. Its heavy fruit production can cause headaches for homeowners who must rake up the balls. So I’m looking for some opinions on this…will even be a suitable option. Thanks for all the good advice Daren. It easily takes on staining, painting and is moderately easy to shape and bore. Has anyone ever milled any sweet gum on here and is it worth all the work or would it be a waste of money? Well i tell you what Duane, you come help me and my buddy put it on a trailer to take it to the mill and we'll be more than happy to give you some of this heavy ars log. Where to Plant a Sweet Gum Tree Due to the sheer size of sweet gum trees, they should be planted in large landscapes, avoiding overhead obstructions, such as wires, to prevent any damage to the tree or its surroundings. A forum community dedicated to professional woodworkers and enthusiasts. So I live in Mexico and I find sweet gum trees (liquidambar styraciflua) very attractive, particularly a tree near my house that turns an amazing red in autumn. I think it was about 30 years old and such a pain in the. The tree was victim to poorly executed trimming and general neglect in the past that has enabled fungi to grow. Look to the east from about midnight until dawn. In 2004, DNA testing was used to solve one such poaching case, involving a 95-foot tree worth US $28,500 cut down from someone’s backyard while they were on holiday. The maul just bounces off. are nearly impossible to rake, meaning they almost always have to be picked up by hand. A guy I work with just had a huge sweet gum tree fall next to his house. The golf ball-size sweetgum balls are the tree’s fruits. They fall in abundance, they can stain cement if left for long periods, and they hurt if you step on them with bare feet. The trees’ spike ball fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves. A large, top quality black cherry, for example, would command a significant price premium as a veneer log, while limby and crooked sweetgum might be priced as pulpwood. Its distinctive round, spiked, dark-brown seedheads, commonly known as “sweetgum balls,” also make it one of Georgia’s most recognizable trees — and perhaps one of its most maligned. Wood Color and Texture Old trees and even some younger trees have relatively large heartwood, called red gum in the trade. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Sweet gum wood is valued for its attractive, interlocked grain. Visit to learn more. THE sweet gum tree is one of the most spectacular autumn-colour trees, when it is at its best. My whole family lives in Murphy NC and are always giving me timber or already milled wood that needs resawn and I always have to bring it down here to get it milled. While you wait, the tree has much to offer. but they are very strong when made into ties. My plan is to have 6”x 6”x 3/4” tiles for the entire house. The vicious seed pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to ruin the Sweet Gums reputation. The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. I have never built anything with sweet gum, although it works great in the fireplace. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Sweetgum tree is valuable for wildlife The American sweetgum tree’s mature fruits and tiny seeds, shown here, provide nourishment for an array of birds and other wildlife in fall and winter. Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated.. All I know is that it is absolute MURDER to split for firewood. (800) 973-8959. Not a tree guy. My question is, is sweet gum lumber worth a darn? It does however do great for turning, the spalting is icing on the cake. Often, newly planted trees will scarcely grow at all for the first two or three years. I looked on the internet and loved the beautiful grain and colors of it but I heard that it has a bad tendency to warp and curl really bad? The sticky or gummy sap of sweet gums serves a purpose for the tree. It's considered a valuable tree used for lumber and furniture production, as well as for ornamental purposes. A tree that is a candidate for the injection must have a trunk at least 2 inches in diameter, and the tree cannot have received a spray or soil treatment within two weeks. The American sweetgum tree’s mature fruits and tiny seeds, shown here, provide nourishment for an array of birds and other wildlife in fall and winter. Hello I’m trying to decide on wood for endgrain wood flooring and sweet gum is plentiful on my property and I personally think it is beautiful wood. Expand Signature. Here's a pic of the monster. The tree is capable of rapid growth in dense stands producing large volumes of wood. trees that he is going to take down. I made the mistake of cutting a big pile of it once for firewood...most of it I ended up splitting by ripping it with the chainsaw! JavaScript is disabled. [question]Hi Dr. Woods, On a past episode of growing deer tv I watched you clear a small plot of small diameter trees by cutting them off close to the ground and apply a herbicide via a sponge brush to the small stump left behind. (sort of like twine spirals down a length of rope) If the logs dry out, they also crack along that spiraled grain. Hey Marko, all kidding aside, what are your mill rates. He wants to know how good they are for burning and how long you would have to season them for. Mercury and Venus are low in the west and Mars low in the southwest around nightfall. Arborday.org Tree Nursery. You painfully find them with your feet. The fruits, commonly known as “sweetgum balls,” drop from the trees in great abundance during the winter. I appreciate the info Daren, I think we are gonna give it a go and see what happens. They begin as pale green, spikey balls in spring and ripen into brown, seed-laden fruits by late summer. The wood has a unique reddish brown color with sapwood that's nearly white and black grain running through the hardwood. I (and my wife) am/are not fans of the sweet gum. Also heard it's true about the wood movement. Jupiter rises in the east around midnight. The American sweetgum is one of Georgia’s most common trees, occurring in forests, yards, parks and neighborhoods across the state. Woodland hiking trails — and yards and neighborhoods that harbor sweetgums — may become literally carpeted with the seedheads. The largest tree reported is nearly 7½ feet in diameter at 4½ feet above the ground. It was a beautiful shade tree but the sweet gum balls and leaves were just too much! 9AM-6PM ET Mon-Fri. 9:30AM-6PM Sat & Sun Sweet gum trees are so ... all of them, it’s easy to get less than you were expecting. 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