Cedar trees, especially the Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), are commonly found on Texas ranches. Historically, periodic wildfires and grazing by native animals kept cedar populations in check. However, due to fire suppression policies and changes in land use, these trees have spread rapidly across Texas landscapes, prompting ranchers to actively manage them.
While cedar trees can serve as windbreaks and provide habitat for wildlife, their dense growth creates significant challenges, including reduced forage production, increased wildfire risk, and lower water availability. This article explores the common cedar species found on Texas ranches, the issues caused by cedar trees, and methods for large-scale cedar clearing. Cedar has its place, but has met its quota.
Common Cedar Trees on Texas Ranches
The following cedar species are prevalent on Texas ranches:
- Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana): mainly found in eastern and central Texas. This tree thrives in a wide range of soil types and climates. This ability helps it spread widely.
- Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei): Common in the Texas Hill Country region, this native cedar is well-adapted to Texas conditions and often grows densely on rangelands.
Both species are resilient and capable of dominating landscapes if left unmanaged, making their control a priority for ranchers.
Identify and Distinguish Eastern Red Cedar vs. Ashe Juniper
The first step in clearing cedar is to identify the species on your property. The best method depends on the species. These two cedar species may appear similar at first glance. However, they have unique features that make them easily distinguishable in the field.
Eastern Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana)
1. Foliage Texture and Color
Eastern Red Cedar:
- Foliage is softer, scale-like, and sometimes appears in a feathery, flattened spray.
- Color ranges from blue-green to dark green.
- New growth is relatively flexible and aromatic when crushed.
Ashe Juniper:
- Leaves are coarser and more needle-like, with tightly packed scales.
- Color tends to be brighter green or even yellow-green.
- Foliage gives off a distinct cedar scent when crushed but is more resinous than the Eastern Red Cedar.
Ashe Juniper Cedar (Juniperus Ashei)
2. Bark Characteristics
Eastern Red Cedar:
- Bark is reddish-brown and tends to peel in long, fibrous strips.
- Trunk can be straight with a single leader.
Ashe Juniper:
- Bark is ashy-gray to reddish, often shredding into thin, curly strips.
- Trees often appear multi-trunked or bushy, with a twisting growth pattern.
3. Growth Habit and Habitat
Eastern Red Cedar:
- Tends to grow in open fields, fence lines, and disturbed areas in eastern and central Texas.
- Often reaches 40–50 feet in height with a pyramidal shape when mature.
Ashe Juniper:
- More common in rocky hillsides and limestone soils of the Hill Country.
- Typically shorter (about 10–25 feet) with a rounded or irregular crown.
4. Reproductive Traits
Eastern Red Cedar:
- Dioecious (male and female trees separate).
- Female trees produce small, blue berry-like cones that are highly attractive to birds.
Ashe Juniper:
- Also dioecious.
- Females produce similar blue cones, but male trees are notorious for producing pollen clouds in early spring, contributing to “cedar fever.” Because of their distinct blue berry-like cones, many refer to ash junipers as blueberry cedars.
Note: There are many different species within the juniper family. While Ash Juniper is the most common in Texas, the method of removal is significantly different for a similar species, the redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii). It is essential to note that the recommendations in this article pertain to the Ash Juniper and blueberry cedar.
By using these characteristics—especially foliage texture, bark appearance, and growth habit—ranchers and land managers can more accurately identify and manage cedar species on their property. Understanding the distinction is also important for targeted removal and ecological restoration efforts.
5 Issues Caused by Cedar Trees
While cedar trees have their place, they can present multiple challenges on Texas ranches, affecting both the environment and ranch operations:
- Blocking Rainfall from Soil: Thick canopies catch and block rainfall. This reduces soil moisture and slows grass growth, which is vital for grazing.
- Water Consumption: These trees utilize a significant amount of groundwater. This takes away resources that livestock and native plants also need.
- High Flammability: The oils in cedar trees are highly flammable. This raises the risk and intensity of grass and range fires.
- Reduced Forage Production: By outcompeting grasses, cedars diminish pasture productivity, limiting feed for livestock.
- Limited Land Accessibility: Thick cedar stands obstruct grazing areas and complicate ranch management with machinery.
These ecological issues caused by cedar trees translate into economic losses, as reduced forage lowers livestock carrying capacity, potentially decreasing ranch profitability. Effective cedar clearing is thus vital for sustainable ranching.
Methods for Large-Scale Cedar Clearing
Ranchers employ three primary methods for large-scale cedar clearing: prescribed fire, mechanical removal, and chemical control. Each method has distinct advantages and drawbacks, tailored to specific conditions like tree size, ranch size, and available resources.
Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire involves the controlled use of fire to reduce cedar populations and restore grasslands. A traditional method widely used across the Great Plains, including Texas.
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A prescribed burn is often used with other methods. For example, you can combine a prescribed burn with the mechanical removal of mature trees. After that, burning helps manage new growth.
Mechanical Removal
Mechanical removal uses tools or machines to take out cedar trees. This method focuses on clearing cedar trees from rangelands. For smaller tasks, ranchers may use chainsaws or loppers, while large-scale efforts often rely on tractors, bulldozers, or mulchers.
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Proper disposal of cut trees is essential. You can chip, burn (if allowed), or repurpose them. This helps prevent fire hazards and stops seeds from growing again.
Note: Both Eastern Red Cedar and Ashe Juniper are non crown-sprouting species, meaning that once they are cut at the base, they do not regrow from the trunk. This is not true for all juniper species, which makes proper identification especially important when planning cedar control on your ranch.
Chemical Methods
Chemical control involves applying herbicides to eradicate cedar trees, providing an effective alternative to physical removal.
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Standard application methods include basal bark treatment, cut-stump treatment, and foliar spray. Basal bark treatment uses an herbicide on the lower trunk. Cut-stump treatment is for freshly cut stumps. People use foliar spray for smaller trees. The most common chemicals for cedar eradication include:
- Triclopyr (e.g., Garlon 4): Effective for basal bark and cut-stump treatments. View Online
- Picloram (e.g., Tordon): Potent against woody plants, often used in combination. View Online
- Glyphosate (e.g., Roundup): Widely used for cut-stump applications. View Online
Ranchers should follow label instructions and wear protective gear. They must also avoid contaminating water sources. This helps reduce environmental impact. The Noble Foundation’s guide on cedar control provides more information.
Long-Term Prevention and Management
Removing unwanted cedar trees is just the first step. It is also important to stop it from coming back. This is key for the long-term health and productivity of the pasture.
Cedars are prolific seeders, and if not properly managed, they can quickly reestablish and spread. Prevention requires ongoing monitoring, follow-up treatments, and strategic land management practices.
One of the most effective long-term strategies is to use prescribed fire on a regular basis. This should happen every 3 to 7 years.
Reintroducing a consistent fire regime can suppress seedling establishment and help native grasses outcompete young cedars. Targeted grazing by livestock or wildlife, along with rotational grazing systems, can lower cedar seedling survival. This occurs by maintaining a healthy grass cover, which limits the amount of bare soil.
For areas where fire is not feasible, annual inspections and spot removal—either mechanical or chemical—are critical. Treating new growth early is more cost-effective and prevents larger infestations from developing.
To limit cedar regrowth:
- Keep native plants.
- Reduce soil disturbance.
- Reseed treated areas with strong grasses and flowers.
In some cases, ranchers may plant productive species or start restoration projects. This helps improve ecosystem strength and biodiversity. It also reduces the chances of cedar taking over. An integrated approach can help manage Eastern Red Cedar and Ash Junipers.
This approach includes three key actions: removal, prevention, and ecological restoration. These steps will protect valuable rangeland from being overtaken by this tree. This will ensure long-term productivity, water retention, and fire safety on Texas ranches.
Taylor Yeates, HRC ranch real estate agent and Certified Professional in Rangeland Management, states, “No matter where your ranch is, there is always going to be invasive brush species to fight. It’s a constant battle, especially with cedar. You have to manage it every year to keep up with it aggressively, or it will overrun the ranch.
The first step is to determine which species you are dealing with, and then start with your most productive soils for maximum returns. Once the tree is gone, thousands of seeds are left under the old canopy. They are just waiting for the right conditions to germinate. So, if not vigilant, don’t be surprised if you end up back in the same spot several years later, fighting regrowth.
It’s not a one-and-done task. It’s an ongoing process.”
Removing cedar trees on Texas ranches is crucial for maintaining productive pastures, mitigating wildfire risks, and preserving water resources. Ranchers can choose from prescribed fire, mechanical removal, or chemical control, each with unique benefits and challenges. The decision hinges on factors like ranch size, tree density, and environmental considerations.
By addressing the issues created by cedar trees, ranchers can enhance their land. These problems include water loss, fire risks, and less food for animals. This helps ranchers generate more revenue and maintain healthy operations in the long run.
Start a conversation about cedar tree removal from your ranch with experienced land brokers at HRC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common ways to remove cedar trees?
- Prescribed fire for smaller cedars or as part of a combined strategy to restore the grassland
- Mechanical with hand tools or heavy equipment
- Chemical applications
What is the best way to remove cedar trees?
Is there an example of a successful cedar clearing program to share?
Spring Mesa Ranch – A majority of the cedar was removed from the ranch after 3 long years of mechanical brush work. This is an impressive feat to accomplish on such a large scale. In addition to the clearing cedars, native grass seeding and restoration have been completed. Massive amounts of manure were hauled in and spread in areas with shallow soil to prepare seed beds for native grasses to be planted. A variety of native grass seed was mixed with 15-15-15 fertilizer and spread on the hillsides, resulting in diverse plant communities in different parts of the ranch.
Jack Fauntleroy, HRC Broker Associate and listing broker for Spring Mesa Ranch, comments, “Grazing conditions and wildlife habitat have been significantly improved as a result of these painstaking efforts. The quality of the native grasslands on this property is unparalleled. The owner’s vision truly came to life—restoring the ranch to the look and feel of a Texas cattle ranch from the 1840s, and creating some of the most scenic and productive wildlife habitats and rangelands in the region.” View Spring Mesa Ranch in Callahan County, TX.
Sources: Visit the Noble Foundation website for additional web insights on cedar management.
