There’s a ball that comes around about this time of year—actually, there are quite a few of them! These aren’t the kind you dance at, but a natural phenomenon that signals mid-winter and early spring.
I’m talking about sweetgum balls, the seeds that begin dropping from the sweetgum tree around this time of year. While some people refer to them as pods, many consider them a pain…. primarily due to their abundance and prickly texture.
It’s uncommon for someone to intentionally plant a sweetgum tree in their yard. Yet, many homeowners and renters in Murray County find these trees on their property simply because they were there before their home was built. If you have one, you know what’s coming soon: the lawn beneath the tree will be blanketed in these brown, spiky marbles, creating hazardous walking conditions as well as ammunition for lawn mowers.
Despite this particular point of nuisance, sweetgum trees do have some uses. If you enjoy crafts, experimenting with homemade remedies, or making money, there are opportunities to put these trees, and especially the seeds, to work.
# 1. Craft Projects
With some spray paint, glue, and patience, sweetgum pods can be transformed into creative crafts, especially around Christmastime. If you’re a crafter and haven’t tried using sweetgum pods in a project, consider searching YouTube for inspiration and tutorials.
# 2. Home Remedies
For those interested in home remedies, both sweetgum seeds and tree balms have historically been used to treat various ailments, such as serving as antiseptics and providing cold or flu relief. There’s a wealth of online information and video guides on harnessing the health benefits of sweetgum properties. However, always conduct your own research and make informed decisions before trying these remedies, as my information should be considered that of a novice researcher rather than a subject matter expert.
(Photo from Facebook page 'My Basic Homestead'.)
# 3. Extra Money
If you’re neither a crafter nor a home remedy enthusiast, collecting sweetgum seeds can still be worthwhile from a financial standpoint, because there is a market for these seeds on eBay. Since sweetgum trees primarily grow in the South, people in other regions are willing to shell out some decent money to get their hands on some.
Were you aware of these interesting facts about the sweetgum tree? Have you ever made a craft or created a remedy using any property of the tree? If so, feel free to share your experiences by sending us a message, and we may talk about it on the Community Events Facebook page!