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Eastern Red Cedar is "Public Enemy Number One"

ARDMORE, Okla. — Oklahoma lost about 782 acres per day to cedar encroachment between 1985 and 1995, according to Mark Moseley, NRCS state range conservationist.

"This is why we advocate cutting forages at the proper stage of maturity, based on species, to reach a compromise between yield and quality," said James Rogers, forage specialist with the Noble Foundation.

"Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is native, but was historically controlled by fires," said Jim Johnson, soil fertility and crops specialist with the Noble Foundation. "Now land that was once open prairie is covered with cedar and no longer provides grazing for livestock."

Dr. David Engle of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at OSU lists some of the negatives associated with cedars as increased pollen and allergy problems, decreased soil moisture, competition for space and sunlight, loss of ecosystem diversity and increased wildfire danger.

There are many methods to control cedar, including burning, chaining, cutting, dozing, mowing, spraying and combinations of these.

"Cedar, like any weed, is easiest to control when it is small," Johnson said. "This winter, while your pastures are dormant, take time to assess if you have small cedars."

Small cedars are easier to see in the winter when they are green and the surrounding grass is brown.

"If there are few enough small cedars, I recommend always carrying an axe or pruning shears and cutting them out," Johnson said. "If there are too many cedars to cut, but they are small, you might want to plan a prescribed fire. Fire typically works on cedars smaller than head high."

Pesticides also can be effective, and labeled chemicals include Tordon (picloram) and Velpar or Power Pellets (haxazinone). Always read and follow label directions, Johnson added.

"One product I am aware of, but not familiar with, is the Lawson Aerator. They offer tandem and straight-blade models that work like rolling choppers. They are advertised to mulch 6- to 8-inch diameter trees," Johnson said.

If the cedars are a little larger, but still few enough to cut with an axe or chainsaw, you will need to do something with the cut trees. One option is to pile them for burning or leave the brush piles for small game species.

"I have seen cedar logs "skinned" with a high-pressure washer leaving a very attractive, decorative post for rustic building projects. For larger logs, you may be able to sell them to a sawmill," Johnson said.

Take the time to control cedars now before your land becomes part of the 782-acre statistic.

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

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