It is theoretically possible to eliminate the balls each year but it ⦠This past Election Day, my sister and I decided to take advantage of our kids having the day off. If youâre up for some experimenting, Sweet Gum Balls can ⦠But the other day, spring was just too compelling, and we went to the old hood for a walk. Harvest the green, immature seed pods of sweet gum. It seems to take longer for sweet gum to give up its properties than other plants. Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Many people think of sweet gum balls as a nuisance, but they can be used to make many types of crafts. But maybe this year will be different. We all know that sweet gum balls are a pesky part of the sweetgum ball tree (also know as Liquidambar). The infertile seeds found in each of the sweet gum’s compound seed capsules have been found to be a good alternate source of shikimic acid, one of the main ingredients in Tamiflu. They get all over the ground, your pets can damage their paws by walking on them, you can’t walk barefoot in your plush green grass – they are just a nuisance! Bark is gray and deeply furrowed, developing about 10 years [â¦] These seeds are often called porcupine balls because they are covered in small barbs. The Sweet Gum tree is the sand spur of the forest. The tree itself is also an important lumber crop in the American South, but because its wood is not strong, it is generally used in combination with other woods as a veneer or in the making of plywood. You might notice the solution turning red or burgundy. Perhaps it is time for some rehabilitation. With the spacers we include in every purchase the Cyclone Nut Rake is the only nut gatherer youâll ever need again. The barbs are carried to new locations when they latch onto animals' fur. The first Westerners to describe the plant were Spanish conquistadors who recorded its uses by Montezuma and the formidable Aztec empire in the 16th century. Bake the gum balls in the oven at 200 degrees for about 10 minutes. How to Get a Sweetgum Tree to Stop Producing Balls. Make sure to work outside with a face mask on while painting. The tree is beautiful and offers lots of shade so I wouldnât mind keeping it, but we absolutely detest the spiny little balls that are covering our back yard. Q: I have a huge 100-year-old sweet gum tree in my side yard and it endows us with sweet gum balls all year. The seed heads of the sycamore disintegrate as their seeds are dispersed; the sweet gum seed capsule, on the other hand, has a woody structure, and the gum balls are quite persistent. This resin is still in use today, occasionally flavoring tobacco, but it is also used as a mild antiseptic and as a treatment for sores. To tincture sweet gum, simply gather green (unripe) sweet gum balls, cut them up (with a skill saw⦠Iâm just kidding, but DAMN) and place them in a quart jar. Older gum trees are not uncommon in the thick, rich-soiled woodlands of several parks in New York City. Receive product updates, specials and more. The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. You know, the super magical thing about the internet is that it can make you the bearer of almost instant knowledge on just about anything. They get all over the ground, your pets can damage their paws by walking on them, you canât walk barefoot in your plush green grass â they are just a nuisance! During the holidays, have your kids paint and decorate dried sweet gum balls while wearing protective gloves. Turns out the Wiccans have some opinions/ideas on the gum balls from the sweet gum tree. Generally considered a southern tree, the sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) reaches the northernmost limits of its natural range along the coast not far north of New York City. Then, spray paint and while the paint is still wet sprinkle glitter on top to make them sparkle⦠Rhonda Stark Stuff I want to make 10601 Theresa Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32246. Sweet Gum Balls; Glue Gun; Wire to make a hanger; Steps to Make a Sweet Gum Wreath Cover Wreath Form with Fabric. Leaves are 3-6â in length and width on a petiole roughly the same length, and star-shaped. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. It's pretty simple, just gather up some Sweet Gum balls which are pretty readily available in the South. Come to find out, the seeds inside that sweetgum balls contain shikimic acid, which is what is needed to make the flu-fighting drug Tamiflu®. 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