Golden on Golden

Liquidambars are ubiquitous here in OC. It's a wonderful shade tree through the warm summer months and is one of the few reliable trees that provide fall

The seed pod, or fruit, is a spiney little ball. Hundreds of them will drop off the tree before it leafs out again in the spring. Beware the barefoot gardener!
Since the tree is deciduous, it's best to prune in the winter (in southern California, at least) when the tree is dormant. You can get a clear picture of the bones of the tree then. Cutting off the lower branches will help the tree grow taller if that is your aim. I've left the lower branches on because we are prone to Santa Ana winds. The lower branches keep the tree achored better than having the tree top heavy. I've planted mine in front of my house for privacy and the pure pleasure of seeing the autumn showstopping color framed by the picture window. It brings the outdoors in. During the winter months while the tree is dormant, it allows the sun to flow in through that window and warm the house on cool mornings. (Hopefully, we will have a few of those this January, just for a little variety.)

Now don't you wish you awakened each morning to the sight of this lovely tree?
Labels: gardening