Sweetgum can be an ornamental street tree or it can serve as a specimen shade tree for fairly large yards. The only downside of this attractive tree is that is wide-ranging and shallow root system can invade sewer lines, flower beds and can raise sidewalks. If you avoid placing the tree closer than 15 feet from those areas, it will serve you well. Another trick to deal with the surface roots and the accumulating gumballs in the spring is to grow ground covers under the tree out to the drip line. You have reduced the amount of grass you need to mow and you don’t have any more problems from your Sweetgum.

For the creative homeowner wanting to make lemonade out of the lemon, try spray painting a bunch of the spiny gumballs and use them as part of your decorations for Christmas.