Cultivation Methods and Care Tips for Sweetgum
5 cm sweetgum price 35 yuan/tree, 6 cm sweetgum 50 yuan/tree, 7 cm sweetgum 90 yuan/tree, 8 cm sweetgum 150 yuan/tree, 10 cm sweetgum 260 yuan/tree, 12 cm sweetgum 400 yuan/tree, 15 cm sweetgum 800 yuan/tree
5 cm sweetgum price 35 yuan/tree, 6 cm sweetgum 50 yuan/tree, 7 cm sweetgum 90 yuan/tree, 8 cm sweetgum 150 yuan/tree, 10 cm sweetgum 260 yuan/tree, 12 cm sweetgum 400 yuan/tree, 15 cm sweetgum 800 yuan/tree. The actual prices should still be based on the local nursery stock market; the above prices are for reference only. Now let us learn how to cultivate it.
How to Grow American Sweetgum, Cultivation Methods and Precautions for American Sweetgum
The American sweetgum tree species is native to North America and was later used as hedges in large gardens. Because the American sweetgum grows relatively fast and has unique flowers, it is one of the commonly used ornamental garden trees. So, let us learn together about how to grow American sweetgum, its cultivation methods and precautions!
How to Grow American Sweetgum, Cultivation Methods and Precautions for American Sweetgum:
1. Growth habits: American sweetgum likes light and is best planted in moist, well-drained acidic soil. Because the American sweetgum has strong adaptability, it grows best in fertile, moist, clayey, slightly acidic soil.
2. Field management: The American sweetgum tree species grows rapidly in moist and well-drained soil. In dry weather, growers should replenish water in time. The vigorous growth period of American sweetgum seedlings is generally from May to August. Growers should replenish water in time and maintain soil water-holding capacity at 50%-60%; in July-August, the water amount should be increased to maintain 70%-75%. Generally, when the rainy season arrives, growers should drain accumulated water in time to prevent root rot in American sweetgum.
3. Fertilization management: After the American sweetgum seedlings survive, growers should topdress in time. For trees planted in fertile soil, topdressing should be carried out once every month. When fertilizing American sweetgum, growers should mainly use nitrogen fertilizer in the early stage and increase the application of phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer in the later stage, which can effectively promote thick and strong seedlings and root growth. Generally, apply 20-30 kg of organic-inorganic compound fertilizer per mu or 250-300 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer.
The above is how to grow American sweetgum, its cultivation methods and precautions. Growers should manage it carefully. At the same time, during the seedling growth period, loosen the soil and remove weeds in time. The American sweetgum plant is a very beautiful garden tree and can improve ornamental value.
Sweetgum Liquidambar formosana Hance Sweetgum Illustrated Guide: How to Grow Sweetgum / How to Propagate Sweetgum
Sweetgum ProfileSweetgum Liquidambar formosana Hance
Aliases:
Category: Herbaceous flowers
Family and genus: Plantae, Angiosperms, Dicotyledoneae, Rosales, Hamamelidaceae, Liquidambar
Full bloom period: Spring
Sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana Hance) is a deciduous tree, up to 30 m tall, with a maximum breast-height diameter of up to 1 m, and grayish-brown bark. It likes a warm and humid climate, prefers light, and tolerates drought and barren soil. It is produced in all provinces of China south of the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River, and is also found in northern Vietnam, Laos and southern Korea. The resin is used medicinally to relieve toxins and pain, stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration; the roots, leaves and fruits are also used as medicine, with effects of dispelling wind and dampness, unblocking collaterals and invigorating blood. The wood is slightly hard and can be used to make furniture and packing cases for valuable goods.
Cultivation Methods and Precautions for Sweetgum Introduction to Sweetgum
Sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana Hance) is a deciduous tree, up to 30 m tall, with a maximum breast-height diameter of up to 1 m, and grayish-brown bark. It likes a warm and humid climate, prefers light, and tolerates drought and barren soil. It is produced in all provinces of China south of the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River, and is also found in northern Vietnam, Laos and southern Korea. The resin is used medicinally to relieve toxins and pain, stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration; the roots, leaves and fruits are also used as medicine, with effects of dispelling wind and dampness, unblocking collaterals and invigorating blood. The wood is slightly hard and can be used to make furniture and packing cases for valuable goods.
Morphological Characteristics of Sweetgum Branches
Sweetgum is a deciduous tree, up to 30 m tall, with a maximum breast-height diameter of up to 1 m. The bark is grayish-brown and flakes off in square blocks; the branchlets are gray after drying, covered with soft hairs, and slightly lenticellate; the buds are ovate, about 1 cm long, slightly pubescent, with scaly bracts covered with resin, brownish-black after drying, and glossy.
Leaves
The leaves of sweetgum are thinly leathery, broadly ovate, palmately 3-lobed, with the central lobe longer and caudate-acuminate at the apex; the lateral lobes are spreading; the base is cordate; the upper surface is green, grayish-green after drying, not shiny; the lower surface has short soft hairs, or becomes glabrous with hairs only in the vein axils; there are 3-5 palmate veins, prominent on both surfaces, and reticulate veins are clearly visible; the margin is serrate, with glandular tips on the teeth; the petiole is up to 11 cm long, often with short soft hairs; the stipules are linear, free, or slightly connate with the petiole, 1-1.4 cm long, reddish-brown, hairy, and early deciduous.
Flowers
The male short spikes of sweetgum are often several arranged in racemes, with numerous stamens, filaments of unequal length, and anthers slightly shorter than the filaments. The female capitulum has 24-43 flowers, the peduncle is 3-6 cm long, occasionally lenticellate, without glands; there are 4-7 calyx teeth, needle-shaped, 4-8 mm long; the lower half of the ovary is hidden in the capitulum axis, the upper half is free, with soft hairs; the style is 6-10 mm long, often curled at the apex.
Fruit
The infructescence of sweetgum is a globose head, woody, 3-4 cm in diameter; the lower half of the capsule is hidden in the inflorescence axis, with persistent styles and needle-like calyx teeth. Seeds are numerous, brown, polygonal or with narrow wings.
Ecological Habits of Sweetgum
Sweetgum likes a warm and humid climate, prefers light, and young trees are slightly shade-tolerant. It tolerates drought and barren soil, but not waterlogging. It mostly grows on flat land, near villages, and in secondary forests on low mountains. It grows well on moist, fertile and deep red-yellow loam. It is deep-rooted, with a thick and long main root, strong wind resistance, and is not tolerant of transplanting or pruning. The seeds have the habit of germinating in alternate years, are not cold-tolerant, cannot overwinter in the open north of the Yellow River, and are not tolerant of saline-alkali soil or drought. On Hainan Island it often forms the dominant species of secondary forests, is tolerant of fire, and has extremely strong sprouting ability.
Cultivation Techniques of Sweetgum Seed Propagation
Seed Collection
When collecting seeds, superior trees that have grown for more than 10 years, have no pests or diseases, grow vigorously, and have straight trunks should be selected as mother trees for seed collection. Sweetgum flowers in early April, and the fruit ripens in late October. The fruit spike is spherical, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, composed of many capsules. Each capsule has only 1-2 fertile black seeds, with an obovate short wing at the apex. Fertile seeds are winged and black; infertile seeds are wingless and yellow, lighter in color. After the fruit matures, it splits open, and the seeds are easily scattered. When the fruit color changes from green to yellowish-brown (slightly greenish) and has not yet split, it should be knocked down for easy collection. The collected fruit should be placed in the sun to dry, generally for 3-5 d. During drying, the fruit should often be turned with a wooden shovel, and after the capsules split, the seeds should be taken out. Then use a fine sieve to remove impurities and obtain pure sweetgum seeds. Based on the weight of fresh fruit, the seed yield is 1.5%-2.0%. The collected seeds should be put in gunny bags and stored in a ventilated and dry place.
Nursery Site Selection
For the sweetgum seedling nursery, it is best to choose sandy loam with good traffic conditions, close to a water source, deep soil layers, loose soil, relatively fertile soil, and a pH value of 5.5-6.0. To reduce diseases, it is best to choose a plot that was previously a paddy field for sweetgum seedling cultivation. Soil that is too clayey or vegetable plots should not be chosen, as these soils contain more bacteria and can easily cause root rot in seedlings.
Sowing and Seedling Cultivation
Sweetgum sowing can be done in winter or spring. Winter sowing germinates earlier and more uniformly than spring sowing. In southern Anhui, the sowing time is chosen between March 10 and 20 in spring (because sweetgum seeds are small, they do not need treatment before sowing).
Because sweetgum seeds are small (dry thousand-seed weight is only 3.2-5.6 g, the number of seeds per 1 kg is 180,000-320,000, the nursery field germination rate is 20%-57%, and the sowing rate is 0.5-1.0 kg per mu). They do not need treatment before sowing. Sowing can be done in winter or spring, but comparatively, winter-sown seeds germinate earlier and more uniformly. Spring sowing is generally carried out in mid-March. Because sweetgum seeds are small, the germination rate in the nursery is only 20%-57%. Sowing can be done in 2 ways: broadcast sowing and drilling. Broadcast sowing is generally used more often.
Broadcast Sowing
Spread the seeds evenly on the seedbed. The method is simple, labor-saving, and produces a high number of seedlings. The sowing rate is 22.5-30.0 kg/hm2.
Drilling
The row spacing for sowing is controlled at 20-25 cm, and the width of the ditch bottom is 6-10 cm. During sowing, spread the seeds evenly in the ditch, generally at a sowing rate of 15.0-22.5 kg/hm2. After sowing, cover with soil in time, preferably so the seeds are faintly visible. Fine soil should first be sieved before covering, and then a layer of rice straw should be covered on top. It is also possible not to cover with soil and directly cover the seeded seedbed with rice straw or thatch. To prevent the straw from being blown away by wind, press it down with sticks, or cover it with bamboo strips or film in an arched shape, which can not only keep warm and prevent wind, but also prevent damage from birds and animals.
Seedling Stage Management
Remove the Cover in Time
About 25 days after sowing, the seeds begin to germinate, and after 45 days the seedlings basically emerge completely. The nursery field germination rate is 12.3%-57%, with an average of 35.6%. When the seedlings basically emerge completely, remove the cover in time. It is best to remove the cover in two steps: remove 1/2 the first time, and remove the rest 5 days later. When removing the cover, move gently to avoid pulling out seedlings.
Thinning and Replanting
After removing the cover, when the seedlings grow to 3-5 cm, choose a cloudy day or light rainy day and thin and replant in time. Remove the denser seedlings with a bamboo stick, shake off the soil, soak the roots in a 0.01% ABT No.3 or ABT No.6 rooting powder solution for 1-2 minutes, then replant them in the seedbed where seedlings are missing. The plant and row spacing is generally 5 cm x 8 cm, and water thoroughly in time after planting. After thinning, the density of sweetgum seedlings is controlled at about 100 plants/m2.
Fertilization and Irrigation/Drainage
40 d after the seedlings are uncovered, a suitable nitrogen fertilizer can be chosen for topdressing. The concentration of the first topdressing should be less than 0.1%, and the fertilization amount is 22.5 kg/hm2. Afterward, according to the actual condition of the seedlings, topdress once about every 1 month, with the concentration controlled at 0.5%-1.0%, and the fertilization amount at 45-60 kg/hm2. During the entire growing season of sweetgum, fertilizer should be applied 2-3 times. In the early stage, mainly nitrogen fertilizer is applied, and in the later stage, phosphate and potassium fertilizers are applied. Fertilization should be carried out after 15:00. When the fertilization concentration exceeds 0.8%, rinse with clean water after fertilization. When it rains, in order to prevent root rot in seedlings, drain accumulated water from the nursery in time; in continuously dry weather, irrigate the seedling plot in time to meet the water needs of seedling growth.
Loosening Soil and Weeding
During the seedling growth period, loosen the soil and weed in time. When the seedlings are small, manual weeding must be used. When sweetgum seedlings grow to more than 30 cm, chemical weeding can be carried out with Goal herbicide at a concentration of 1/3000, with a dosage of 15 ml per mu each time. When applying the herbicide, point the sprayer head at the middle of the row spacing for drilling, and be careful not to spray the solution onto tender leaves and young stems. Sweetgum seedlings are sensitive to Goal herbicide, so as to avoid phytotoxicity; broadcast-sown sweetgum nursery plots should not use Goal solution for spraying; if the seedling area is large and chemical weeding is truly needed, use 25 ml of Goal, add 1 kg of water, mix evenly with 25 kg of fine sand, pile it for 2 hours, spread it out to dry, then evenly scatter it on the seedbed, and gently sweep the sand off the sweetgum seedlings with a palm broom (some sweetgum seedlings will suffer slight phytotoxicity and will resume growth after 10 days).
Afforestation and Propagation
Site Selection and Land Preparation
Choose warm and humid valleys and the lower and middle parts of hillsides with deep soil; in low mountain and hilly areas, shady slopes and semi-sunny slopes are preferable. Land preparation should be completed before winter. For gentle slopes, full reclamation plus hole-shaped site preparation is preferable; for steep mountain slopes, fish-scale pits or hole-shaped site preparation should be used, with hole specifications of 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm. [5]
Planting
Afforestation should be carried out in early to mid-March when the climate is relatively stable. The general plant and row spacing is (1.5-3.0) m x (1.5-3.0) m, with 1,110-4,440 plants/hm2. For timber forests, wider spacing can be used; for fodder forests, raw material forests, and forests for both timber and seedlings, closer spacing can be used. In hilly and low mountain areas, mixed forests can be established, mixed with tree species such as masson pine and Chinese fir, in strip or block patterns, with sweetgum accounting for 30-40% of the mixture. For regeneration on cutover sites of Chinese fir or masson pine, mixed forests mainly of sweetgum should be established, with a proportion of about 70%. [5]
Tending Management
Newly established forests should be weeded and loosened for 2-3 consecutive years, with tending twice in May-June and September-October. In the first year, weeding is the main task; in the second and third years, expanding planting holes is the main task, with a hole diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 15 cm. Young forests should be fertilized in combination with tending from September to May of the following year, using organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer applied in strip ditches. Fertilization of mature forests is best done in winter. Starting from the second year after afforestation, prune branches below 1/3 of the tree base as well as forked branches and competing branches, until the forest becomes closed. Pruning should be carried out during the tree dormancy period. Pruning cuts should be smooth, without damaging the bark or leaving stubs. When the stand canopy density reaches above 0.9 and suppressed trees account for 20-30% of the total trees, thinning should be carried out. The starting period is about 10 years. The low thinning method is mainly used. The first thinning intensity is 25-35% of the total stand trees, and after thinning the canopy density should not be less than 0.7. The thinning interval should not be less than 8 years, and thereafter the thinning intensity is 20-30%. Final cutting is carried out after 30-40 years.
Disease and Pest Control of Sweetgum
Sweetgum seedlings have strong adaptability. Therefore, pests and diseases generally do not occur easily. However, when the cover is just removed, because the seedlings are relatively tender in growth, pests and diseases may occur within a short period. After removing the cover 7 d later, a suitable pesticide can be chosen for spraying, generally 2000-fold chlorothalonil solution. Afterward, spray 1000-fold chlorothalonil solution, or 800-1000-fold carbendazim solution once every 20-30 d; when insect pests occur, spray 1000-fold methamidophos solution for control. During the seedling growth period, loosen the soil and weed well. Because sweetgum seedlings are sensitive to herbicides, when weed damage occurs, manual weeding is generally used and herbicides must not be used.
Clear dead branches and fallen leaves from afforestation sites to eliminate sources of pests and diseases; establish mixed forests to improve the forest site ecological environment; remove diseased and pest-infested trees to destroy the habitat of pests and diseases; fertilize scientifically and thin reasonably. For controlling the brown tent caterpillar, the following methods should be used:
(1) Manual cocoon removal;
(2) Protect natural enemies: pick out parasitized pupae from cocoons collected in the field and put them back into the forest, or do not collect them:
(3) Chemical control: use 25% diflubenzuron III 3500-fold solution, or 20% fenvalerate 2000-fold solution, or 25% deltamethrin 2000-fold solution, or 40% omethoate 800-fold solution, and spray the tree canopy with a motorized sprayer in the evening. The control effects are all above 90%. Pyrethroid solutions can also be sprayed into the web nests, with a control effect of more than 95%;
(4) Poison rope method: mix 20% fenvalerate with machine oil at 1:8, soak paper rope for 0.5 h, take it out to dry, then tie it at breast height on the trunk. The control effect is above 90%;
(5) Light trapping of moths: set up insect-trapping lamps in concentrated areas of heavily damaged forest land to trap and kill adults, with good results.
Variety Classification of Sweetgum Mountain Sweetgum（Liquidambar formosana var. monticola）
Small tree; branchlets and leaf backs glabrous and hairless; leaf backs often grayish-white; base truncate or slightly cordate; persistent calyx teeth slightly shorter.
Distributed in mountainous areas of Sichuan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong and other provinces and regions, mostly seen in forests above 500 m.
Distribution Area of Sweetgum
Sweetgum is produced in all provinces of China south of the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River, from Henan and Shandong in the north, to Taiwan, China in the east, to Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet in the west, and to Guangdong in the south; it is also found in northern Vietnam, Laos and southern Korea.
Medicinal or Dietary Therapeutic Value of Sweetgum
The medical information and health dietary therapy information on Huahua Network is for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. Any health problems should be consulted with professional medical staff, and the treatment of any disease should follow a doctor's advice.
Ultimate flower protection task: To love yourself, start from reality and strictly follow a doctor's advice. For illness, do not be careless, do not delay, do not give up hope, face it bravely, warm the silent world with love, and care for the flower field in your heart with your heart.
Medicinal Value
The resin is used medicinally to relieve toxins and pain, stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration; the roots, leaves and fruits are also used as medicine, with effects of dispelling wind and dampness, unblocking collaterals and invigorating blood.
Lulutong, the medicinal part is the infructescence of sweetgum. Bitter in taste; neutral in nature. Dispels wind and dampness; soothes the liver and activates collaterals; promotes urination.
Sweetgum resin, the medicinal part is the resin of sweetgum. Pungent and bitter in taste; neutral in nature. Dispels wind and invigorates blood; relieves toxins and pain; stops bleeding; promotes tissue regeneration
Sweetgum root, the medicinal part is the root of sweetgum. Pungent and bitter in taste; neutral in nature. Relieves toxins and reduces swelling; dispels wind and relieves pain.
Sweetgum bark, the medicinal part is the bark of sweetgum. Pungent in taste; neutral in nature. Removes dampness and stops diarrhea; dispels wind and relieves itching.
Sweetgum leaves, the medicinal part is the leaves of sweetgum. Pungent and bitter in taste; neutral in nature. Promotes qi flow and relieves pain; relieves toxins; stops bleeding.
Supplementary Formulas
1. To treat yellow fluid discharge from the ear: 15 g sweetgum fruit, decoct in water and take.
2. To treat indigestion: equal amounts of sweetgum leaves, Centella asiatica, and Houttuynia cordata, sun-dry and grind into powder, take 4 to 5 g each time, taken with boiled water.
3. To treat carbuncles and mastitis: 30 g fresh sweetgum root, 10 g Viola philippica, add an appropriate amount of wine and water, decoct and take.
4. To treat insufficient lactation: 7 to 8 sweetgum fruits, decoct in water, add appropriate amounts of rice wine and brown sugar, take after meals.
5. To treat dizziness and headache: an appropriate amount of fresh sweetgum resin, apply to the temples.
6. To treat acute enteritis: 10 g sweetgum leaves and 10 g Vitex negundo leaves, 6 g Persicaria hydropiper, decoct in water and take in 2 divided doses, 1 dose per day.
7. To treat watery diarrhea and dysentery: decoct and drink sweetgum bark.
Chemical Composition
Twenty compounds were isolated from the fat-soluble components of sweetgum root. Among them are two new compounds: 3β,6β-dihydroxylup-20-en-28-oicacid-β-glucopyranosyl ester and 2v-acetoxyl-3β,6β-dihydroxylup-20-en-28-oic acid-β-glucopyranosyl ester, both lupane-type saponins. The remaining known compounds were identified as stigmast-4-en-3-one, β-sitosterol, (24R)-3β-hydroxy-24-ethylcholest-5-en-one, β-amyrin, oleanonic acid, arjunic acid, hederagenin28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 28β-glucopyranosyl-23-O-acetyl arjunolic acid, arjunglucoside II, quadranoside I, β-sitosterolglucoside, gallicacid, 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-catechin, (+)-gallocatechin, 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-6-O-syringoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside.
Landscape Uses of Sweetgum
In China, sweetgum can be planted in gardens as a shade tree, and can be planted alone or in groups on lawns, or mixed with other trees on hillsides and beside ponds. If planted in combination with evergreen tree clusters, the contrast of red and green in autumn will appear especially beautiful. Also, because sweetgum has strong fire resistance and resistance to toxic gases, it can be used for greening factory and mining areas. However, because it is not tolerant of pruning and large trees are relatively difficult to transplant, it is generally not suitable for use as a street tree.
Uses and Functions of Sweetgum
The wood of sweetgum is slightly hard and can be used to make furniture and packing cases for valuable goods.
Sweetgum Pictures