We have just purchased a liquidamber worplesdon but planned to plant it in our small garden about 15 feet away from the house. Comments from some readers about invasive root growth and upshoots are scarey! With talk about undermining house foundations! How dangerous is this tree near our house?
Jean: Not really. All trees have roots but very few undermine foundations. Willows are about the only one that gives trouble and that is because the roots wheedle their way into drains. Go ahead: plant it.
Planted a 6ft root balled liquidamber in March. Not showing much signs of life although a few buds are starting to show a few leaves. could this be due to the harsh winter ?
We we recommended the liquidamber by the council who have some oversight over any tree replacement here (Bracknell). And good advice it was, too. Everyone comments upon it - vistors and neighbours alike - in the autumn when it puts on its finery!
We prune it agressively every 3 years and it never fails to return with more foliage than before.
We had fruits for two years but - silly me - I mistook them for an infestation, like those affecting some oaks. The fruits rarely dropped and were on the tree next year, dark brown, hard, and not particularly attractive.
A few roots are breaking the surface which we will have to watch - unchecked, they will damage the lawnmower before too long.
Still, for the only tree we've ever purchased, this is a cracker!
actually I was going to cut down the two liquid ambers on our property (6 acres so no worry about roots ) because they drop their leaves and make a big mess... but lo and behold my bees love the spring flowers and are humming along on there so much l thought there was a new swarm ... so the liquid ambers are there to stay - as it gives the bees a great start in australian spring - like an energy drink the nectar is already turning into honey very early in the season
my bees love this tree! I got our 6 acre place 4 months ago and would have cut the two liquid ambers down soonest as they drop lots of really messy leaves ( yes ok they are a beautiful resplendent colour but the japanese maples don't make such a mess )... but they've been spared the execution becos the bees just love them in spring , here in australia , and are already making honey so my Q is - is this why they're really called liquid amber ?
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We prune it agressively every 3 years and it never fails to return with more foliage than before.
We had fruits for two years but - silly me - I mistook them for an infestation, like those affecting some oaks. The fruits rarely dropped and were on the tree next year, dark brown, hard, and not particularly attractive.
A few roots are breaking the surface which we will have to watch - unchecked, they will damage the lawnmower before too long.
Still, for the only tree we've ever purchased, this is a cracker!