🚀 go-pugleaf

We had one in our front yard when we lived in Dallas.  They are a mess to
clean up, but when we sold our house, our agent mentioned that there is now
a variety that doesn't have the messy spiky balls that are so
characteristically annoying.  I still think that the root and trunk problems
are still a concern.

Olga Menninger (originally from Edmonton, Alberta).

"Shirley Lin" <silk@svpal.org> wrote in message
news:3A36509E.61D77E3E@svpal.org...
> Tak,
> I agree with you--Liquidambar are overly large, messy  trees and have
shallow
> root systems, particularly near overly watered lawns.  The drawbacks have
to be
> weighed against the pluses.
> Homeowners need to take some responsiblity for keeping the leaves and
seeds
> being dangerous to those who walk in the neighborhood.  My husband, Kimio,
> regularly grouses and does this.
> If you've ever had to rake the leaves from maple trees, Liquidambar is a
puny
> task!
>
> In our neighborhood, the city (Cupertino) regularly comes out and has to
> replace the sidewalks and sever the roots near the trees.  I enjoy the
trees,
> and the city takes responsibility for their decision to plant these trees
by
> regular maintenance.  Some of my co-workers complain that San Jose doesn't
do
> much about street tree maintenance except  with dire safety concerns.
>
> Your name reminds me of my brother-in-law, Tak, who lives in Edmonton,
Alberta,
> calls us his outlaws.
>
> Shirley Lin Kinoshita
>
> Janet Fairchild & Tak Nakamoto wrote:
>
> > Be very careful where you plant Liquidamber. They are large trees with a
> > correspondingly large root system. I realize that you'll likely not be
in
> > the same house when the tree you planted grows to its ultimate size but
the
> > next generations of occupants will love it if you plant wisely.
> >
> > Liquidambers were planted as street trees in many neighborhoods in
Berkeley
> > 40 to 50 years ago. Along the street where we lived 'til recently, the
> > City's public works crews come out to one or two houses each year to
replace
> > a sewer line at great expense because the root system has managed to
chew it
> > up. (Each and every tree had been planted directly over a sewer line.)
When
> > mature they are very brittle. They tend to shed major branches in
windstorms
> > and are prone to trunk splitting. Like large ball bearings, the seed
pods
> > are a hazard for pedestrians. They are nonetheless very beautiful.
> >
> > Tak Nakamoto
> >
> > Shirley Lin <silk@svpal.org> wrote in message
> > news:3A350930.627A2B0B@svpal.org...
> > >
> > > We have these glorious deciduous trees lining the street in our
> > > neighborhood.  They're messy, but beautiful and worth planting for
their
> > > fall colors, nice shade in summer, and quaint seed pods which hang on
to
> > > attract birds in the winter.
> > >
>