Controlling Eastern Red Cedar

Eastern Red cedar is a native plant that is infesting a large percentage of Oklahoma’s rangeland and forestland. Historical records reveal that eastern red cedar was mainly concentrated around canyons and streams or other places that were protected from the fires that swept the vast prairies. Fire prevented the encroachment of this problematic species, but with the settlement came the suppression of fire. The number of acres infested with red cedar doubles every 18 years even though eastern red cedar is one of the easiest brush species in Oklahoma to control.

Landowners have become more and more concerned as they see the invasion take place on their land. This increased concern prompted studies of the effects of red cedar on forage production and wildlife habitat. It was determined that red cedar severely limits the forage growth beneath the canopy, but has very little effect on forage production beyond the drip line. Research also shows that up to 250 trees per acre can cut forage production by 50 percent. Eastern red cedar can be a beneficial cover plant for some wildlife; however, its value becomes a liability when it begins to dominate an area. Few species of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, raccoons, game birds, and some songbirds consume the ripe berries during the winter months. This also contributes to the spreading of red cedar through their droppings. Red cedar can also have a negative effect on some species of wildlife, such as, wild turkey and bobwhite quail. Turkeys tend to leave roost trees when cedars invade beneath them. Bobwhite quail and other ground birds respond negatively to cedar infestation, due to the increase in perch sites for aerial predators.

Control of eastern red cedar is relatively simple. Control methods include prescribed burning, herbicides, and mechanical removal. Fire is the most economical form of control and generally provides good results with adequate grass fuel. Control is best with trees under six feet tall, because the grass fuel requirements to burn larger trees often exceeds the annual production potential of the site. Prescription burn plans are available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to help conduct safe burns. Chemical control is somewhat limited and relatively expensive; however, it does provide a viable option in some situations. Mechanical control is usually very expensive, but provides excellent control of large trees and allows selectivity. Selectivity can be very important if the area is being managed for wildlife habitat and can allow the removal of female, seed bearing trees, to prohibit future infestation. For further information and assistance, contact your local NRCS Field Service Center.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

< Back to Generic Releases