Sweet Gum Tree

Question

I have a 20-year-old sweet gum, approximately 50′ tall, with leaves out fully at the top but sparse at lower branches. Five years ago our street was flooded for about a week (from back to back hurricanes), and the tree really hasn’t been the same since. Even the fall coloring is not as varietal. Do I need to call an arborist? Has the tree reached its maturity and now it’s time to be cut down? If it’s diseased, how would I be able to tell (it does have lichens and air plants on it but no moss, yet)? I really don’t want to have it removed (my mom planted it) but I also don’t want to have it fall on my neighbor’s house either.

Answer 1

Sweet gums can live to be 400 years old, and are both salt and water tolerant. An arborist might be your best bet.