Overabundant cedar trees have a negative impact on air quality, wildlife, agriculture, water quality and public safety. While other trees and shrubs such as the salt cedar and multiflora rose are problematic, if there is ever a tree that needed killing in our pastures and paddocks, it is the Eastern red cedar.

Since we have experienced several wildfires in the area, many people have asked whether the fires damaged cedars enough to kill them. Ideally, we would like to see the whole tree burned to kill an Eastern red cedar. However, if the fire was hot enough to damage the tissue that supplies water and nutrients to the tree, it can sometimes kill it when only a substantial portion of the lower branches are burned. Evaluate trees three to four weeks after a fire to see if the tops are beginning to turn brown. If they are, the trees will probably die.

The following photo guide will help you evaluate how fire damage will affect cedar trees.

If there is no green left on a tree after a fire, it will probably die. If the lower branches are burned, it presents an opportunity to remove it from the pasture as you can more easily access the trunk.

For more information on controlling Eastern red cedar, contact a Noble Foundation soil and crop specialist. For more information on prescribed burning, contact a Noble Foundation wildlife or forage specialist.

David Annis
Suburban AG Specialist 

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