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Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,579 posts, read 81,186,228 times
Reputation: 57818
Yes, in fact I had that happen. Mine lost the top 4' in a windstorm, reducing it from 8' to 4. I cut the ragged top at a severe angle to avoid pests and disease, and now, about 4 years later it's 12' tall with a nice new leader that sprouted from a new branch near the top that started out horizontal but then went vertical on it's own. Fortunately the neighbor's fir that dropped the 20' branch on it has since been removed.
Yes, in fact I had that happen. Mine lost the top 4' in a windstorm, reducing it from 8' to 4'.
I wouldn't consider a sweetgum mature until it reaches 50'.
I think its fairly common for the tops of sweetgums to get blow off. If you look around a mature forest you'll see lots of them missing the top and that afterwards the main branches below begin to grow vertically forming multiple leaders.
I find the OP's tone a little odd, are you hoping to save this tree? I've never once heard of someone that liked sweet gum trees and the landmines that prevent you from going barefoot, literally 12 months of the year.
I have had several different trees develop a new leader after damage and eventually a new crown. I have no doubt a sweetgum will over time.
I bought a house I really liked but it has three sweetgums that I consider removing every year as I cleanup their mess of seeds. The hassle and expense of bringing them down, dealing with the roots, and putting something else in has led me to hesitate... but it gets worse every year so it may be soon.
My question is why on God's green Earth, with as much crap that comes off a sweet gum from the slimy pods in the Spring to the spiny gumballs the other three seasons, you'd even want it in your yard?
Yes, I'm hoping to save the tree so I don't have to spend the money to have it taken down. No, I don't want it in my yard.
Borrow a chainsaw. I like your chances of taking it down safely better than the long term risk of leaving a large, unhealthy tree with multiple leaders. Just read your insurance policy closely before you start. You'll also get the opportunity to plant a tree that adds (rather than subtracts) value to your home.
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