Treedweller wrote:
On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 15:50:47 -0500, George Shirley
wrote:


That's why we don't have any. We often get winds up to 50 mph and the
Bradfords generally just snap off. Same with the ornamental plums people
plant around here. Got enough trouble with the pine trees snapping off
about 40 feet up and falling during hurricanes. Even oaks are brittle
around here, no tap roots. Only trees that didn't blow over during Rita
were those useless sweet gums.

George

HMM, a tree that survives where no other can . . . sounds pretty
useful to me!

k

They don't blow over because they have tap roots that go to hell. They
don't break because there is no grain to the wood, it's all twisted up
inside, they're a pain in your yard because of the gum balls (seed pods)
they drop. Some are big as a golf ball and they've got little spikes all
over them. If there was an infertile sweet gum I would agree with you
that they would be a good tree to have.

George