The City of Springfield is trying a new approach to deal with the ongoing nuisance of sweet gum balls that fall from trees and collect on the ground.
You may see some of those trees with small bottles placed around the base. The city says that’s a “deflowering agent” designed to eliminate young flowers on the tree from becoming fertilized and forming gum balls.
The city hopes this will be a cost-effective way to get rid of the gum balls without having to remove the entire tree.
