Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be tricky to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas as well as in other places. It is often considered invasive because, if left unchecked, it can quickly take over a pasture, choking out any grass growth.
Along with quickly taking over a pasture, it is a very thirsty plant. They can soon suck a spring dry leaving you with no water. I knew a rancher near here that when he started removing cedars on his place, he had a spring start producing water again.
While controlling 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.
Two different types of cedar
While there are many different species of cedar, the two most common west of I-35 here in Texas are the Redberry and Blueberry varieties. It is crucial 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
- It will have specks of white wax on its 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 known as an Ashe juniper
- Producers a blue-colored berry
- Also, a basal-sprouting plant
- It is not a re-sprouting plant, so removing the stems will kill it
- Often found in Central and South Texas, though it 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, you can plan how to control them. There are generally three different methods of cedar control:
Spraying
Spraying can be effective against both redberry and blueberry plants. Ideally, this method works best on cedars less than 3 feet tall. You can spray plants taller than that, but it will require more chemicals, making it a less-than-ideal economical choice.
Whether you will use the leaf spray or spot spray method will determine which type of chemical you need.
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 the leaves to the point of runoff to be the most effective.
Always follow the mixing directions on the container. Add a surfactant or dishwashing liquid to the spray mix to ensure a thorough coating. Adding a little dye to the mix is a good idea so you can quickly identify which leaves you have sprayed.
A word of warning: purchasing and using Tordon 22K will require a Pesticide Applicator License from the Texas Department of Agriculture or in which state you reside.
Spot Spray Method
Velpar L is recommended for the soil spot spray method to control 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 use 2ml of the product for every 3ft plant height. It requires more than a single 2ml dose, and 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 expensive and time-consuming. Also, with any chemical applications, you risk killing any plants you may want to keep. If you apply too much, you risk contaminating the water supply.
Mechanical
This method is self-explanatory. It involves using equipment such as a dozer to remove the cedars from the area.
Using a dozer can be more feasible if you try clearing out a large area, but it can get a bit pricey. Also, if you are trying to get rid of redberry cedars, you will need to ensure that the entire plant, roots and all, have been removed, or the plant will return.
Another way to use 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 must clear out a large area. It would help if you also treated redberries, or the plant will grow back.
Drawback:
As we all know, paying for dozer work without the equipment can get expensive. One way to reduce the cost is to break the area into smaller tracts. Then, you will clear only one parcel at a time.
As I mentioned, using a chainsaw or another tool can be cheaper. However, it can become very labor-intensive if the area is large. Before deciding on this method, consider just how much space you want to work on. Knowing the space size will help you decide which option is best for your time and budget.
Just removing the trunks will kill the blueberry cedar. However, you must apply a chemical to the stump to kill the redberry ones.
Controlled burning
Using controlled burning to control cedar and mesquite has become a viable management option. After all, fire is one of the ways that nature initially used to keep cedars from overpopulating.
With adequate fuel and suitable conditions, fire will control most cedars less than 6ft tall. If you want to learn more about using controlled burning, check out one of my previous articles, “The Dummies’ Guide to Prescribed Burning.”
Drawback:
Many cedars have grown so large that they need more than prescribed burning. Burning will not work if you have many of them over 6ft.
It would be best to be the most effective if you did not graze the particular pasture for at least a year, for an adequate amount of fuel can be built up. If the growth is too thick, you must burn it more than once. Burning more than once is so the brush will open up enough for the fire to 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 can help you liability-wise in case something turns out wrong.
The Texas AgriLife Extension service offers a program, Brush Busters, that properly provides more information on controlling different species, not just cedar.
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