Chemical Cedar removal

[psj12]

I have purchased a piece of land in eastern OK. A portion of that is overgrown with medium to large cedars. Too many to cut and I don't necessarily want to bulldoze them as I want it to remain wooded (hunting land) but with natural species. The cedars are choking out the natural growth. Has anyone used chemical removal??

I did a search and came up with several names of herbicides. Velpar, Tordon, and Pronone Power Pellets. Does anyone have any experience with these? Pros/Cons?

 

[psj12]

Anyone?

 

[smstonypoint]

This report from Oklahoma's Forestry Service gives some useful information on Eastern Red Cedar control: http://www.forestry.ok.gov/Websites/forestry/images/Redcedar_FAQs_web_version.pdf. That report indicates that chemical control is expensive and uncommon.

Depending on how you define "medium to large," your cedars may have economic value. A local Oklahoma Forestry Service representative should be able to advise you on alternatives for control (e.g., herbicides, burning, harvest, etc.).

Steve

 

[ericher69]

Anyone?

Small copper nails at the base of the tree will work...

How many trees are we talking about?

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I wish those cedars were here on my land. We have western Red Cedar growing naturally here but not enough of it to meet the demand for cedar lumber. Cedar here thrives on wet ground where fir does not. I just logged off 17 AC and the cedar I had brought almost twice as much as the fir. Were talking stuff around 2' diameter.

Ron

 

[woodlandfarms]

I wish those cedars were here on my land. We have western Red Cedar growing naturally here but not enough of it to meet the demand for cedar lumber. Cedar here thrives on wet ground where fir does not. I just logged off 17 AC and the cedar I had brought almost twice as much as the fir. Were talking stuff around 2' diameter.

Ron

Yeah, me too. Baby cedars (3 foot) get around $7 per plant from wholesale growers.

 

[tree farmer]

Maybe you can "adopt" a few of our plentiful deer. They have decimated nearly all of the 550 Western Red Cedar seedlings I planted last year. They think it's candy....Dan.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

We have all the deer we need; thanks anyway. Didn't your nursery tell you how to prevent the deer from eating them? There are sleeves that go over the trunks. Not sure how it all works. My forest consultant said that was what I have to do if I want to re-plant with some cedar. I have a dozen cedars about 3' tall I've grown from little seedlings and the deer haven't found them yet. Need to explore further as I want to put cedars in the wetter areas. My land is in a forest set aside so I have to re-plant per my forest management plan. This way I have 20 of my 21.5 AC in the set aside and pay very little taxes on the land. Cut my property tax bill in half.

Ron

Ron

 

[smstonypoint]

It's interesting that neither Eastern Red Cedars nor Western Red Cedars are really cedars -- the Eastern Red is a Juniper species and the Western Red is in the cypress family.

Steve

 

[jim44]

I tried Velpar a few years ago on some mesquite. I don't remember it as being particularly expensive, but it is mighty dangerous stuff. The idea is to put about a teaspoon full on the ground near the base of the target tree. It did kill the mesquite, and also EVERYTHING in about a 10' diameter circle. And then, you still have the dead trees to get rid of.

I wound up using about 1/2 cup of it, and fetched the rest to the next hazardous material disposal the county had. Way too dangerous for me.