Question
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Followup To
Question -
Is there any thing I can do about the fruit (spike balls) that fall from my tree? I rake them up every other week.
Answer -
OK I am confused--soft maples have a winged fruit not "spiked balls" see web link: http://forestry.msu.edu/UPtreeID/PICShardwoods/RMAP-fruit.jpg

One tree that does have spiked ball fruit is sweetgum--the leaves are star shaped simular to maple but the leaves are attached at alternate location on a twig not opposite as are maple. Here is link to sweetgum: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=53
Let me know if this is sweetgum or not.


Answer
Sweetgum produces the balls (cones that have the seed in side) in amounts that will vary depending on the year and weather conditions at pollination time. There is a spray that some feel will work to keep the balls from setting and forming. I do not have any experiance with this but you might try the local garden type store and see if they have it. It will take soraying the tree and depending on the size this maybe out of the question. Here is the refence to the spray:

Florel Fruit Eliminator may be the answer to your problem!Florel is a fruit eliminator that, when sprayed on the tree at the proper time, can prevent up to 85% of the sweetgum balls from developing. The key to success is the application timing. The application must be made when the tree is in full bloom. When green clusters of tiny balls are visible on the tree inearly spring, it is in full bloom and ready to be treated. From that point, we have about a two week period to spray the tree. Once sprayed, the tiny green balls will fall off and the tree will have a significant reduction of sweetgum