Controlling Cedar Trees Important to Pasture's Future

Ted Alexander estimates he has removed a million red cedar trees since taking over his grandfather’s ranch 20 years ago.

Back then there was 75 percent tree canopy cover on his Sun City, Kansas, ranch. “It was a cedar forest,” Alexander said of the overgrowth, which started in the 1950s. He burnt around 100,000 trees during the first two years. Then Alexander bought a saw after noticing half the cedars remained after burning.

He is now in the maintenance stage, burning his land every seven to 10 years and `carrying loppers on his four-wheeler. “Whenever I see a little tree, I cut it off. It (red cedar encroachment) is an ongoing attack.”

For years red cedars have been used extensively in windbreaks, park and cemeteries, highway “snow fences” and erosion controls throughout the eastern half of the country. But now their uncontrolled growth causes major problems in a band sweeping from Texas to southern Canada.

Because of recent droughts and wildfires, local fire officials may not grant permits as frequently as they once did, said Stevan Knezevic, a University of Nebraska weed scientist. “That’s one of the reasons why we’ve seen quite an explosion of cedar trees,” he said. Another reason is that red cedars produce a large amount of berries containing seed.

Knezevic said red cedars can grow an average of a foot each year. For pastures with many short trees—no more than a couple of feet tall—broadcast herbicides are very effective. These same herbicides also work well as individual treatments on trees up to six feet tall. Mechanical control, however, is the most effective option for trees taller than six feet, especially if terrain allows use of equipment or manpower efficiently. Tall trees must be cut at ground level to prevent regrowth.

Less severe overgrowth of trees up to two feet can be pulled or dug up. Trees under two feet can also be mowed, with the blades set close to the soil surface or below the lowest branches.

Burning is also an option during non-drought periods and if authorities are willing to grant permits. “When there are a lot of two and three-footers, with fire you can take care of those trees quite well if there is enough grass to carry the fire and to burn the trees completely,” Knezevic said.

Complete coverage of red cedars results in total loss of grass production and makes livestock handling difficult. He has had good results with disking, then replanting with warm or cool-season grasses. “If there is enough moisture for grass re-growth, you should have a good pasture within a few years,” Knezevic said.
Alexander emphasized the need for a good business plan and to understand how fire affects that business plan. For example, one cannot burn during a drought and one should not burn each year. He has not burnt since 1998 because of drought. Even though rainfall amounts have been more typical since 2002, the grass root structure has not recovered enough for burning. Alexander tells people that just cutting red cedars makes the problem worse. Since cows will not graze amid fallen trees, little trees grow unchecked. He often finds seven to eight small trees growing around the “carcass” of a cut tree. “A one-shot item is not a cure-all. You have to do follow-up and that follow-up is fire,” he said.©