Why Does My Sweetgum Tree Look Unhealthy?

Do the surface roots appear at the base of the tree?

Are the leaves yellow with green veins?

Do the branches turn black at the ends?

Are there webbed nests in tree branches full of caterpillars?

Do the leaves have holes, twigs may be girdled, silky bags hang from the branches?

Are there any dark, damp stains on the bark of the shrub?

The Sweetgum tree is vulnerable to compacted soils and will produce surface roots in that environment. Cover the surface roots with "light" soil (topsoil mixed with peat moss or sand). Don't cover the roots with much more than about 2 inches of soil.

Chlorosis or yellowing of the foliage is sometimes a sign that a plant is not able to take up enough iron from the soil. This is often because the soil is not acidic enough. Although Sweetgums can tolerate soil with some alkalinity, sometimes it becomes too alkaline and the tree develops an iron deficiency. To make the soil more acid sprinkle powdered sulfur or used coffee grounds on it for the rain to soak in. Avoid using limestone, or wood ashes as soil amendments.

In areas where the fall is mild, trees may put out new growth up to and beyond the normal frost date. These twigs, buds, and branches are particularly vulnerable to a sudden drop in temperature because they have not had time to mature properly. They are killed by the frost and turn black. Usually, trees do not sustain any permanent harm. Do not fertilize with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer in the fall, which stimulates this growth.

The caterpillars in the nests are called tent caterpillars. Tent caterpillars can be controlled by manually destroying their nests or egg cases, spraying leaves with BTK at the first sign of damage, or applying pyrethrin spray as a last resort.

Adult male bagworms are black, clear-winged moths. Wingless females and larvae (caterpillars) live in distinctive 2-inch long bags of tough silk, camouflaged with bits of vegetation that hang from willow branches like ornaments. Handpick and destroy all the bags. If you notice crawling caterpillars you may have to use insecticide as they are really hard to get rid of.

Bleeding necrosis is a fungal disease that occasionally infects sweetgum trees. The tree looks as if a can of oil has been poured on the bark. Inside the tree, the inner bark shows a dark reddish-brown stain. Pockets of a white crystalline substance develop with the tissues. There is no effective treatment known. Remove and destroy the diseased tree.

If a Sweetgum seedling dies for no apparent reason, it may be due to climate. Because Sweetgum trees grow over a wide area in the U.S., they have had to adapt to the climates of both the warm South and the cooler North. Seeds produced by Sweetgums in the South will successfully grow only in warm climates, and seeds produced in the North will produce young trees that can handle the shorter days and colder climate. It is important to buy young trees that are appropriate for the region where you live.