Possibly build a 1' high wood deck around it so you can enjoy the summer shade as you sit on the deck? Then you can just sweep the balls off the deck into the trash.

We removed one of those trees and it suckered everywhere! Those roots are relentless! So are the balls!

I feel sorry for you, but it is a beautiful tree! We have an equally messy tree (silky oak) and I'd like to know how to spray to prevent the seeds. It's in bloom now. Who sprayed it for you and how can I find someone to do that here?

Suzi

Suzi

I have not lived with a liquidambar so can't be sure the seeds wouldn't sprout in a bed of groundcover, but it seems to me, the easiest way to get them out of sight is to establish groundcover tall enough to hide what falls in. For years I lived with many oaks in a quarter acre bed of english ivy and I never had anything to clean up .... neither leaves nor acorns. It was all eaten by the ivy. Two or three times a year I walked through and shot the occasional sprout with a hit of herbicide. It was quite easy maintenance.

To DesertDance:
I also have several of the silk oaks and the birds keep planting new ones...I don't like them as they are messy. For the liquidamber spray, I hired the pest company that sprays my house and lot for bugs. Not sure all pest companies can do this as they have to have the equipment that is powerful enough to reach the top of the trees.

I'll start calling pest companies today! Thank you, and good luck with your problem tree.

Suzi