🚀 go-pugleaf

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.
> >