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how do you pick up gumballs from your yard

by Wilbert Considine Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

How do you pick up gumballs from your yard?

  • Pick up the sweet gum balls by hand while wearing a pair of gardening gloves.
  • Rake the sweet gum balls into a pile with a standard leaf rake.
  • Roll over your lawn with a rolling nut picker-upper like the Nut Wizard or Pecan Picker Upper.
  • Donate your sweet gum balls to fellow gardeners or crafty neighbors.

Raking or Blowing
Raking with a close-tined rake and bagging is an effective way of removing the balls, as well as for getting exercise. An additional method for removal is by blowing them into a pile with a power blower, ready for bagging. Tall grass interferes with the efficiency of both these methods.
Dec 15, 2018

Full Answer

How do you pick up sweetgum balls from a lawn mower?

Always use gloves when picking them up to protect your hands against the sharp spines. Most lawn mower vacuum systems clog up with the sweetgum balls, and a standard mower shoots them out the sides of the mower deck, making them into fast-moving projectiles.

How do you dispose of sweetgum balls?

After they're bagged, you can dispose of them through your trash service, if allowed, run them through a chipper for mulch or find environmentally friendly ways to use them, such as for arts and craft projects. Do not attempt to compost the sweetgum balls whole, because they take years to decompose.

Can I compost sweetgum balls?

Do not attempt to compost the sweetgum balls whole, because they take years to decompose. Always use gloves when picking them up to protect your hands against the sharp spines. Most lawn mower vacuum systems clog up with the sweetgum balls, and a standard mower shoots them out the sides of the mower deck, making them into fast-moving projectiles.

How do you get rid of golf balls in your yard?

Raking with a close-tined rake and bagging is an effective way of removing the balls, as well as for getting exercise. An additional method for removal is by blowing them into a pile with a power blower, ready for bagging.

How do you get rid of gumballs?

0:393:16Arbormax tree service eliminating sweetgum balls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPeople thought the only way to get rid of them was to cut the tree down. Which is unfortunateMorePeople thought the only way to get rid of them was to cut the tree down. Which is unfortunate especially when you've got a nice landscape like this that's focused around sweet gum trees.

Will a lawn sweeper pick up gum balls?

A: Yes. Ohio Steel Sweepers will pick up sweet gum balls. More than one pass may be needed due to the prickly nature of the material. Also it may be difficult to collect ones that are buried deep in long grass.

Are sweet gum balls good for anything?

Air and water easily pass through their hollow structure, and their spikey surface can even help deter slugs and other animals. With a slow decomposition rate, sweet gum balls provide long-lasting ground cover, blocking out sun and preventing weed germination.

Do sweet gum balls decompose?

Wait for a good rain and roll this over your lawn, imbedding the balls in the soft earth, where they will decompose. Pulling a 270-pound roller over soft ground isn't child's play. Mulch them: Because sweet gum balls shoot out from lawnmowers, they should be confined to be mulched.

Do squirrels eat sweet gum balls?

Sweet gum balls start out plump and green, but they dry as they mature. The spines become even spinier, and holes open up to reveal seeds inside the balls. These seeds are food for about 25 species of birds, chipmunks and squirrels, says Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Will a cyclone rake pick up gumballs?

We've got a Nut Collector for ALL Your Nuts Whatever you call this amazing new tool, you can be sure it will easily gather all the different types of nuts that fall on your lawn and driveway. From acorns and hickory nuts up to black walnuts and sweet gum balls, the Cyclone Nut Rake will collect them all.

Can dogs eat sweet gum tree balls?

Sweet gum trees bloom with inconspicuous, yellowish-green flowers in the spring that turn to seedpods -- which are often called gumballs -- in the fall. The tree is not toxic to dogs and cats, but the seedpods do present a different type of health threat if your pet were to step on one.

Can you sell sweet gum tree balls?

Prices vary, but you can get as much as $20 for 100 sweet gum balls. Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on how to make a little extra money, easily maintain a clean yard, and put those sweet gum balls to good use.

Do deer eat sweet gum trees?

8 | Sweetgum Tree In all honesty, the sweetgum tree is pretty hated. The sticky substance produced by the tree trunk is often loathed by people and the tree holds little value for wildlife — especially deer. Some birds will eat the seeds, but that aside, it's pretty much useless.

Do sweet gum balls fall every year?

The spiky clusters are actually balls of fruit with tiny seeds inside that birds and squirrels snack on. By mid-fall, the balls are dead and seedless. Just like leaves, they must fall, so the tree can prep for new growth. The only difference is sweetgum balls drop all fall and winter.

Are sweet gum trees worth anything?

Sweetgum is a relatively hard, uniform grained wood previously used for furniture and plywood. It tends to warp and stain easily. It is low valued and currently rarely used, except for industrial blocking and pallets.

Is a sweet gum tree good for firewood?

Does Sweet Gumwood burn good? Sweet Gum burns good when dry, like most other types of hardwood. It produces up to 20.6 million BTU per cord, which is better than the average for burning. Although the wood burns quickly, mixing it with other hardwoods will give you better results.

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