
Master Gardeners: The Benefits of Gumballs
By Laura Myers In the fall, sweetgum trees often get a bad rap in Arkansas. Their spiky seed balls—those hard little “gumballs” that cover yards and sidewalks—can be a real headache. But while many homeowners see them as a nuisance, sweetgum trees actually have a lot of overlooked benefits. For starters, they’re tough trees that thrive in heavy Arkansas clay soils where other trees struggle. They grow fast, provide great shade,















