Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be a very difficult plant to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas. It is often viewed as invasive because if left unchecked it can quickly take over a pasture chocking out any grass growth.
Along with quickly taking over a pasture it has been shown to be a very thirsty plant. I knew a rancher near here that when he started removing cedars on his place he had a spring start producing water again.
While getting control of cedar is possible it is not a one-and-done type of thing. It will take many applications to get this little pest under control.
2 different types of cedar
While there are many different species of cedar the 2 that are most common west of I-35 here in Texas is the Redberry and Blueberry variety. It is important to identify which one you are trying to treat because they can require different types of control methods.
Redberry Cedar
- Produces a red or copper colored berry
- Will have small specks of white wax on it’s yellowish-green leaves
- Basal-sprouting plant (will have several stems coming from the ground forming a clump
- Often found in West, West-Central, and North-West Texas
Blueberry Cedar
- This plant is also know as an Ashe juniper
- Producers a blue colored berry
- Also a basal-sprouting plant
- Not a re-sprouting plant so removing the stems will kill it
- Often found in Central and South Texas, though can be found further west
Methods of Control for Cedar
Now that you have identified which type of cedar you are trying to get rid of now you can plan how you will control them. There are generally 3 different methods of cedar control:
Spraying
Spraying can be effective against both redberry and blueberry types of plants. Ideally this method works best on cedars that are less than 3 feet tall. You can spray plants that are taller than that but it will require more chemicals to do so making it less than ideal economical choice.
Depending on if you will be using the leaf spray or spot spray method will determine which type of chemical that you will be needing.
Leaf Spray Method
Tordon 22K is the recommended product for using the leaf spray method. As the name implies you will want to spray all of the leaves to the point of runoff to be the most effective.
Always follow the mixing directions that are on the container. To ensure a thorough coating you will need to add a surfactant or dishwashing liquid to the spray mix. It might not be a bad idea to add a little dye to the mix so you can easily identify which leaves you have already sprayed.
A word of warning: purchasing and using Tordon 22K will require a Pesticide Applicator License from the Texas Department of Agriculture or which state you reside in.
Spot Spray Method
Velpar L is recommended for the soil spot spray method in controlling cedar. This chemical does not require mixing and can be used by attaching a delivery handgun or syringe directly to the container.
You will apply the chemical to the soil surface midway between the cedar stems and the edge of the canopy. The directions say to apply 2ml of the product for every 3ft of plant height. It it requires more than a single 2ml dose then you will need to space them out evenly around the plant.
Drawback:
If you have a large area that needs application these methods can get pretty expensive and time consuming. Also with any chemical applications you run the risk of killing any plants that you may want to keep. If you apply too much you run the risk of contaminating the water supply.
Mechanical
This method is pretty self explanatory. With this type of method you will be using a piece of equipment such as a dozer to remove the cedars from the area.
Using a dozer can be more feasible if you are trying to clear out a large area but can get a bit pricey. Also if you are trying to get rid of redberry cedars you will need to make sure that the entire plant, roots and all, have been removed or the plant will simply come back.
Another way that you can go with this method is to use a chainsaw and cut the trunks flush with the ground. And like the spray method this can get expensive and time consuming if you are needing to clear out a large area. You will also need to treat any redberries or the plant will grow back.
Drawback:
As we all know paying for dozer work if you do not have the equipment can get expensive. One way that you can reduce the cost is to break the area up into smaller tracts and only clear one tract at a time.
As I mentioned earlier using a chainsaw or other tool can be the cheaper option but it can become very labor intensive if the area is large. Before deciding on this method you should take a look at just how much area you are wanting to work and decide which option is best for your time and budget.
Just removing the trunks will kill the blueberry cedar but you will need to apply a chemical to the stump in order to kill the redberry ones.
Controlled burning
Using controlled burning to control things like cedar and mesquite has become a viable management option. After all fire is one of the ways that nature originally used to keep cedars from overpopulating.
With adequate fuel and under the right conditions fire will control most cedars that are less than 6ft tall. If you are wanting to learn more about using controlled burning then check out one of my previous articles “The Dummies’ Guide to Prescribed Burning”.
Drawback:
Many cedars have grown so large that prescribed burning is not really an effective management tool against them. This will be the case if you have a lot of them that are over 6ft.
In order to be the most effective you will have to not graze the particular pasture for at least a year or so in order for an adequate amount of fuel can be built up. If the growth is too thick you will have to burn it more than once so the brush will open up enough for the fire to really get in there.
Also it is a good idea, not to mention required by law, to contract this job out to a licensed professional to do a prescribed burn. Doing it that can help you liability wise in case something turns out wrong.
The Texas AgriLife Extension service offers a program, Brush Busters, that provides more information on how to properly control different species, not just cedar.
If you would like to learn more about making your operation more efficient and profitable then check out my e-book “Nuts and Bolts of Successful Ranching”.
