How to Get Rid of Gumballs Without Losing the Tree

The colorful fall leaves of the sweetgum tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, almost offset the annoying seedpods that drop all over your lawn. Difficult to remove, their spines tear through plastic bags. If you mow over them, inevitably one shoots out from the lawn mower like a rocket, banging into the side of the house or car. The seedpods are useful as a mulch in flower beds where cats have become a nuisance. Unfortunately, the spines will also prick your fingers if you attempt to garden without heavy protective gloves. There is a way to prevent the gumballs from growing without losing the tree.

Outdoor thermometer
Ethephon product
Tree sprayer
Garden hose
Soap

Instructions

- 1
  Monitor the sweetgum tree to determine when it is in bloom. The small, yellow-green blossoms appear in late April and May.
- 2
  Check the temperature outside. Once you've determined that the sweetgum is in full bloom, the optimum temperature for spraying is between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 3
  Mix 1 quart of an ethephon-based growth regulator with 10 gallons of water. Pour it into the tree sprayer. Use it within four hours of mixing the solution.
- 4
  Spray the entire tree, thoroughly wetting the blossoms. Avoid spraying on windy days as the overspray may damage paints, plastics and automotive finishes.
- 5
  Rinse any desirable plants under and around the tree with water to dilute the ethephon solution that might have sprayed on them. If any spray came in contact with vehicles, plastic products or paint, wash them with soap and water within one hour.

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