Cedar Trees

Trees provide numerous benefits to humans and wildlife, and with the lifespan of a cedar tree reaching up to 300 years, that’s not something to bat an eye at. Unfortunately, the longer a tree lives, the more time and opportunities there are for damage to occur to the tree or for the tree to cause damage to your property.

Here are seven reasons to consider cutting down your cedar tree:

• It’s too close to your house or other buildings
• Your tree has started to require too much maintenance
• You want to reduce the number of insect infestations in your tree
• You want to minimize potential storm damage
• You want to improve the health of your lawn
• The cost of keeping your tree outweighs its benefits
• The tree is dying

Depending on how long you’ve been in your home, there could be some sentimental memories attached to your tree. Keep on reading for some important reasons why you may have to cut down your cedar tree.

Your Cedar Tree Is Too Close To Your House Or Other Structures

If as your cedar has grown over the years it’s gotten closer and closer to your house, the tree could potentially cause issues with the structure of your house.

• As the canopy of your tree grows, it could potentially disrupt your water drainage system. While most cedars are narrowest at their highest point, if these trees get too close to your home’s rain gutters, the tree could be interrupting proper water drainage.

The good news is that with a cedar tree you won’t have your gutters filled with leaves that could cause a backup of water within the gutter system, but needles and branches can still come off your cedar tree during windy or stormy weather and end up in your water drainage system.

Ultimately, this could cause water to back up in your drainage system and be forced into areas where you never planned, or wanted, the water to go.

• As root systems develop, they could push against underground home structures. Cedar trees have root systems that can spread almost half their height.

Because of this huge variance in their root systems, your tree’s root system can do significant damage to your house’s foundation, driveway, and walkway. The root system could also pose a threat to any utility service lines or pipes that may be running underground from the source to your home.

How Close Is Too Close For A Cedar Tree Near A House?

There is a general rule that when planting trees, they should be planted between ten and twenty feet away from your house to avoid any conflict. We would recommend splitting the difference and going no closer than 60ft for a cedar tree to a structure.

That’s assuming we’re discussing a tall variety of cedar tree like atlantic white cedar.

Another formula you can reference is that the distance between your tree and house should be no smaller than half of the tree’s full-grown height. So, if your cedar tree variety can grow up to 120ft tall, you’ll want the tree to be planted no closer than 60ft to your house.

Now, most of you probably have either small cedar varieties OR large, existing varieties that were already on your property historically. So it really will vary here but just imagine the full height of the tree and where it could land.

Additionally, several additional factors should still be taken into account when determining if either of these recommended distances will be enough to prevent any damage:

• What kind of root system does the cedar tree have?
• How tall is the cedar tree expected to grow?
• What kind of foundation does your home have?
• Is your yard prone to flooding during storms?
• Will you be able to complete your regular lawn maintenance at your desired, or the specified, distance?

Keep in mind that the larger the cedar tree, the more space they will need to maintain their health and longevity. Do your research on the specific cedar variety in your lawn and what’s native to your area!

If you spot a cedar tree that’s five to ten feet away from your home, or if you notice branches are scraping your roof or siding, it may be time to consider trimming, or removing, the tree to prevent further damage to your home or other buildings.

Your Cedar Tree Is Dying

If the health of your cedar tree has started to decline and corrective measures aren’t properly taken, the issue could spread and cause damage to the structural integrity of your tree, making it a liability.

While cedar trees are beautiful and fragrant, they are, unfortunately, susceptible to certain common ailments.

• Root rot or canker. If you notice that your cedar tree is developing decayed or sunken-looking areas, this could be an indicator of root rot. These afflictions cause tree bark and branches to become discolored and can also encourage fungus to grow on the bark.

Regular maintenance of your tree, like watering, fertilizing, and proper pruning, can help deter these issues, but once they strike, it can be a challenge for the tree to fully recover from.

• Cedar apple rust. This can be identified by the orange, jelly-like growths that may appear on the trunk and branches of your tree. Cedar apple rust will cause the leaves to turn brown and fall off, but according to The University of Minnesota isn’t a guaranteed death sentence for your tree.

With proper treatment, including the removal of galls, and trimming off infected areas, the tree may be saved. However, the tree will need to be monitored to ensure that it doesn’t return.

Sometimes these issues can affect the appearance of your cedar tree. For instance, many issues cause cedar wood to turn grey over time.

What To Do If Your Cedar Tree Develops Issues

We know that our first instinct is to usually try and get rid of the issue or other problem with our tree so that the tree can be saved. So, at what point do we know that our tree may be too far gone, and removing it is now our best option?

Consider the following questions:

• Has the issue been properly identified?
• How widespread is it?
• Is there a treatment?
• If the issue has come back, how often has it returned, or has it returned at a greater level?

If the problem has spread throughout your tree and removing the affected areas would leave you close to being tree-less, it may be time to remove the tree from your yard completely.

If you’ve treated your cedar for the same issue several times over the year, the tree is likely to remain susceptible and continue to get sick. To keep other areas of your yard unaffected, you may want to consider cutting down the tree for good.

Just as a heads up, if your cedar has damage and brown needles, it probably won’t grow back on the tree.

Your Cedar Tree Requires Too Much Maintenance

When it comes to your cedar, thankfully you don’t have to worry about having to clean up leaves every week come fall. That said though, your cedar can still require regular maintenance to keep it healthy and thriving for years to come.

• Regular watering. Cedars are hearty trees, but when they’re young or freshly transplanted, they need proper watering to develop their root system and properly grow.

If you have a sprinkler system or other method to keep your trees hydrated while they’re young or in extreme droughts, this may not be problematic, but for some folks keeping their trees on a steady water or maintenance schedule may pose a challenge.

• Proper trimming. Whether it’s due to an underlying issue or regular trimming to make sure the tree keeps its nicely shaped canopy, trimming your cedar can grow more difficult as the tree grows. For more help with trimming, check out our 5 simple tips for trimming a cedar tree.

• Ensuring general health. As we mentioned before, cedar trees are susceptible to certain prolonged issues. For example, if your tree is continuously suffering from cedar apple rust and you’re always working to cure it, then it may be time to consider removing the tree.

If any of these regular tasks begin to get too strenuous for the owner or property caretaker, or if we simply no longer have the time, energy, or desire to complete them when they’re needed, it may be time to consider cutting down your cedar tree.

In addition, sometimes your cedar simply won’t grow back as nice even if you trim it well. For more information, check out our article on why cedar trees won’t grow back.

You Want To Reduce Insect Infestations On Your Cedar

Bugs love plants, and essentially your cedar tree is just a larger plant for them to call their home. While some bugs are more problematic than others, you need to keep an eye out for insects that could be causing harm to your tree.

Here are some indicators that your cedar tree may have an insect infestation:

• The leaves on your cedar have turned yellow or are starting to curl. This may be an indicator of a potential aphid infestation.

If you notice this activity on your cedar tree, watering your cedar tree is a simple yet effective way to help detach this pest from the tree.

Using a stronger spray setting on your hose and focusing on spraying the undersides of the leaves and branches will knock the aphids off and it will be difficult for them to locate the tree again.

• The tips of the branches are dead, and sap seems to be leaking from the tree. These signs point to a likely bark beetle infestation, and this is a pest that is hard to get rid of.

If you notice these signs, act immediately and begin inspecting the tree for these pests and cut off any infested branches.

Pruning the tree will help prevent beetles from infesting healthy branches of your cedar, but if these bugs are not caught in time they may have moved to a new area and the signs may not be showing yet.

Because of this potential delay in spotting and visible activity, the infestation could quickly spread, making it difficult to manage.

What To Do When Pests Infest Your Cedar Tree

Like our checklist above, consider the following questions when determining if keeping your cedar tree after an insect infestation is in your best interest:

• Has the insect been properly identified?
• How large of an insect population are you dealing with?
• Can you realistically treat the infestation while maintaining the health of the rest of the tree?
• How often after an insecticidal treatment do you notice bugs returning to your tree?

You can use insecticides such as Natria Neem Oil or Bonide Annual Tree and Shrub Insect Control to help get rid of the bugs in your trees, but if you find yourself treating your tree for bug infestation after bug infestation, whether it’s the same insect or a new one, it’s time to give some serious thought to getting rid of your cedar tree.

You Want To Minimize Potential Storm Damage From Your Cedar Tree

Depending on the location of your cedar tree, or any tree really, there is always the concern of a tree, or several, coming down during a heavy storm and the potential damage that it could create for you and your family, as well as possibly your neighbors.

Severe storms can bring damage without any warning, and while the storm could knock just a few branches off your tree, there is also a threat that a large and strong enough storm could cause your tree to fall or split completely and cause additional damage.

Depending on the location of your tree, and the direction it falls, there are several major areas where a fallen tree can cause damage to your property.

• Your house. Whether it’s putting a hole in your roof or potentially taking down your entire home, if your tree is large enough and falls toward your house during a storm, there are several areas a tree could damage.

From broken windows to cracked siding, it’s hard to predict what exactly could happen if a tree falls on your home, but there are enough possible combinations for home damage during a storm that you don’t want to add a tree to the mix if you can avoid it.

• Your car. If you park your car outside, or if your neighbors park their extra cars outside near your property line, a fallen tree can cause damage to any vehicle in its predicted line of falling.

• Your fence. A couple of years back a derecho came through our town and caused quite the mayhem. Luckily, we were able to escape a great deal of damage, but the storm split our neighbor’s tree which came down directly on our fence.

Now, storm damage happens, and it’s not anyone’s fault, but the damage is quite real.

For us, it took several days to help with the cleanup of the tree, and our dogs were quite the mess for not being able to roam freely in the yard while we made the required repairs to the fence.

Depending on the height and material of your fencing, if it’s damaged during a storm, it can be a costly, and timely, repair.

• Power lines. Quite possibly the height of storm damage, trees have been known to take down power lines and cut power to an entire neighborhood (or another large area).

If your tree is close to a set of power lines, many villages and cities try to keep the tree trimmed away from the lines so that the likelihood of this event occurring is minimal, but even the best-laid plans can go awry.

If your cedar tree has started to grow too close to the power lines or other utilities in the area, you might consider cutting down the tree to ensure that your tree isn’t the cause of an outage during a storm.

Relocate Your Cedar Tree If Possible

We know that accidents happen, and storm damage is unpredictable.

If your cedar tree, or any tree in your yard, is creeping closer to any of the areas or items from our list, you may want to consider relocating or cutting down the tree to help avoid costly repairs and damages.

You Want To Improve The Health Of Your Lawn

Did you know that trimming your tree on a routine basis will help improve the health of the surrounding grass? 

Because of the large canopy that can develop on certain species of cedar tree, they have the potential to greatly reduce the amount of sun and water from reaching your grass.

From grade school science class, we probably all know tucked away in our brains that all plants need light, food, and water to survive. If your grass isn’t getting the proper nutrients or enough sun and water for its basic survival, then your grass is suffering. 

Cutting Down Your Cedar Tree Can Keep Your Grass Greener

We recommend checking out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine what grasses will grow most successfully in your area to help minimize the impact of your cedar tree on your lawn.

However, if you’re keeping your cedar properly trimmed, and you’re making sure that your grass is getting water, fertilized, and every your grass every other possible benefit you can and your lawn still isn’t in your desired condition, it may be time to remove your cedar so that you can start anew with your lawn.

The Cost Of Keeping Your Cedar Tree Outweighs The Benefits

Between the bugs, and home damage that cedar trees could potentially cause as they grow and develop, there could come a point in time when the cost of keeping your tree could outweigh its benefits.

Sure, your cedar trees might be the perfect additions to your Christmas-y yard during the holidays, the tree may have been a housewarming gift from Great Aunt Nancy, and it undoubtedly provides shade and home to wildlife. 

But if you’re constantly paying for insecticidal services to keep bugs away or having to use landscapers to reseed or sod your surrounding lawn every year, you may have to look at the hard cost benefits of the tree and whether or not you’ve reached the tipping point.

When’s The Best Time To Cut Down Your Cedar Tree?

Even a single reason from our list could be enough for you to determine that it’s time for your cedar tree to come down.

Use some common sense, if the tree may come down WITHOUT you interfering, you should cut down your cedar tree ASAP. If the cedar isn’t presenting an immediate issue but should be taken down due to a non-time sensitive issue, then see if you can hold off until you have the funds saved OR it’s a favorable time of year, such as winter or fall, when you can get a better rate from an arborist during their less-busy season.

Now, my overall recommendation here is going to vary on the TYPE of cedar tree you have. You could have a cedar tree that reaches triple digits in height already near your house, or you could have a different variety entirely such as emerald cedar that will reach around 15ft at maturity. It all depends on WHAT variety is native to your area and specific to you. So do some more research!

If, or when, the time does come for the tree to be cut down, make sure you take the appropriate steps:

• Make sure it’s clear to cut down the tree (and check to make sure that there are no local ordinances that would prevent you from cutting down a tree in your yard)
• Gather the necessary equipment
• Account for the fall area of the tree and have a safety route planned
• Cut the tree
• Clean up

Thus, call a professional if your tree isn’t something that you can use a personal chainsaw for. Use COMMON SENSE. You could use even a hand-saw or a VERY good pair of loppers to take down a 15ft tree. If that tree is 50ft? You may want to call a professional.

This is especially so if your cedar variety is anywhere near anything valuable. Don’t mess with it!

Granted, if you’ve decided that you just want to give the tree a bit of a touch up, take a peak at our guide on trimming cedar trees here!

References

Hansen, N. J., & McComb, A. L. (1955). Growth, Form and Survival of Plantation-Grown Broadleaf and Coniferous Trees in Southeastern lowa. In Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science (Vol. 62, No. 1, pp. 109-124).

Jules, E. S., Kauffman, M. J., Ritts, W. D., & Carroll, A. L. (2002). Spread of an invasive pathogen over a variable landscape: a nonnative root rot on Port Orford cedar. Ecology, 83(11), 3167-3181.

Song, Y., Sterck, F., Zhou, X., Liu, Q., Kruijt, B., & Poorter, L. (2022). Drought resilience of conifer species is driven by leaf lifespan but not by hydraulic traits. New Phytologist.

USDA Forest Service Forest Healrotection (2011). Using Insecticides to Protect Individual Conifers from Bark Beetle Attack in the West.

Cedar is a versatile wood that can be used in many different applications. It is often used in closets and chests to repel insects and protect clothing. Additionally, it is often used in all-purpose furniture. The problem for some is the color that cedar will age to—a dull, worn grey.

As cedar wood ages it begins to turn grey and matures to a silvery-grey sheen. Sun, rain, and age work to dry up the natural oils and degrade the cells of the cedar wood, which in turn is what eventually turns it grey. Pressure washing cedar can help restore its natural color.

If you like the color grey, or you enjoy the look of aged, weathered wood, then there’s nothing you need to do except let weather and time age your wood. If this is your preference, there are some steps to keep your cedar looking fresh, new, and warm.

Why Cedar Wood Is Used Outside

Cedar lumber has natural oils that produce a pleasing scent to us, but insects hate it, making the wood a natural, and very effective insect repellent. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about termites, wood beetles, or other insects eating your deck, siding, or fencing.

In fact, when the oils are extracted from cedar wood, they make great insecticides and insect repellants. According to the USDA, scientists who tested cedar oil against insects such as mosquitoes, flies, fire ants, and ticks. In their experiments, the cedar oil either repelled them all, exterminated the pests, or both.

These same smell-good oils are what make cedar wood naturally resistant to rot, fungal infections, and decay. While a fence made from spruce or pine may last you up to seven to ten years, a cedar fence, even without staining and protection, can last twice as long. 

When outdoor cedar applications are maintained and well cared for, they can last up to 40 years. This is why cedar is a popular choice for fencing, decks, siding, and even roofing material.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology backs up this finding. They say cedar products have an assumed lifespan of 40 years. In order to maintain the appearance and increase the life of cedar products, two coats of stain should be applied every 10 years.

Even cedar outdoor furniture tends to stay cooler than other wood furniture, even in the blazing summer sun.

This is because cedar has tiny pockets of air scattered throughout the woodgrain. These minuscule air pockets help to insulate the wood and keep it from getting as hot as other wood species.

Many people wonder if cedar is a good wood for campfires. Usually people don’t recommend cedar, but if you are interested in what makes a good firewood, check out our article on the 10 slowest burning firewoods!

Why Does Cedar Turn Grey?

When choosing the lumber you want for your outdoor project, whether it’s a new fence, a deck, shingles, or something else, you might choose cedar because of the appealing color of the wood.

Cedar can be red, orange, brown, or a mixture. Either way, these warm colors are beautiful. When the wood eventually fades to a dull grey, it can be heartbreaking.

When wood is fresh cut, and stored indoors it tends to retain its natural color. But over time the oils that give cedar wood their warm colors and pleasing scent dry out, and the cells reach their end. As this happens, the wood morphs into that weathered-looking grey.

The sun’s rays not only dry out the oils and damage the living cells in wood, but they also have a bleaching property to them.

As the oils dry out and the cells shrivel up, water can get inside where it opens up tiny cracks that let more sun and weather in. This is how wood ends up rotting over time.

While cedar resists this greying more than other types of wood, without protection, it will still happen. Given time, most wood types do fade to grey when exposed to the outside elements.

How Fast Will Cedar Wood Begin To Grey?

While some parents with teens seem to grey overnight, cedar wood takes a little time to grey, but still, time is of the essence if you are looking to keep that youthful glow to your fence or deck.

Luckily, some cedars are regarded as the slowest growing trees, so once they reach maturity, they should have a long time before they turn grey due to old age.

Depending on the freshness of the wood, exposure to the elements, and the thickness of the wood, cedar may start to turn grey in as little as two weeks, or it could take up to a year before it begins to lose color. The sooner you can protect the natural wood color, the better.

After you get your outdoor cedar project finished there are a few steps to take to keep the color from fading away. The first step is to let the wood dry completely. This may take a few days or up to five weeks, depending on the weather.

Your cedar lumber might still have a little moisture trapped inside even after it has been installed, so it’s best to let the wood dry completely before applying any stain or protectant.

Skipping this step could severely shorten the life of the wood, or at the very least, result in an unsatisfactory finish.

If the cedar wood starts to grey slightly before it gets completely dry, it’s okay, we can fix that. You can scrub the wood with a plastic or other stiff bristle brush (not wire) and a mixture of oxi-cleaner and water to remove that tiny film of grey.

Ways To Prevent Premature Greying In Cedar

The best way to keep the warm oranges and reds of your cedar is to stain it, add a protective finish, or both. There are many stains out there that can change the color of your wood, keep it looking natural, or even speed up the weathering process if that’s what you like.

For simplicity, we will assume you want to keep the cedar lumber looking natural, after all, that’s one of the main draws to outdoor cedar wood applications. Staining your cedar is the best way to keep the naturally warm colors.

You can use transparent stains, or stains that have pigments added in. For stains with colors added in, there are semi-transparent and opaque stains.

In this application, we recommend using a transparent stain so the natural cedar color comes through, or a semi-transparent stain that is most similar to cedar.

Choose an oil-based outdoor stain like this Cabot Wood Toned Deck & Siding Stain, Cedar. Good quality oil-based stains penetrate deep into the wood to offer better fade resistance, and UV protection, while also offering water resistance.

Even when staining your cedar, sun-fade still happens, only at a reduced pace.

Because of this, you will have to reapply stain to your fence, decking, or what have you, every two to five years, depending on the level of fading. This helps to ensure the wood lasts longer and keeps that warm, loving glow for many years to come.

Do You Need A Wood Sealant For Your Cedar? 

When you use a good, oil-based stain, it also seals the wood, so you don’t need to add the extra step of sealing it. While the stain is often more expensive, it has better UV protection, especially when it has higher pigment content such as solid color options.

Wood sealants are typically clear and have to be reapplied every year. Most don’t offer the UV protection of stains, so adding a yearly sealer is often seen as an unnecessary step.

Another potential problem with some sealants is they can cause a build-up, which will end up cracking or peeling.

Polyurethane and wax-based sealers are often the culprits here. They form a film over the wood to protect it from sun and water, but eventually, the elements break that film down.

Keeping the natural cedar look can be a time-consuming task, but it may be better than looking out and feeling like you’re staring at a black and white photo from the past, because of the tired-looking, grey cedar.

How To Restore Cedar Wood To It’s Natural Color Once It’s Grey

It’s okay if the cedar is already grey, new life can be breathed into it, even if the wood has been left unprotected for a few years.

Cedar will start to fade out quickly, but after the initial onset of grey, it slows down. With a few steps and a copious amount of elbow grease, your deck can look as young as a Hollywood starlet getting a botox treatment.

The first step is to pressure wash the cedar. This will wash away the old, tired, silver fox look to expose the warm, vibrant color underneath. Pressure washing also gets rid of any mildew, algae, and dirt that you don’t want to be sealed back into the wood.

If you are pressure washing it yourself, you want to use pressure between 1500 and 2000 psi. Be sure to keep the spray eight to twelve inches away from the wood. If you get too close you can “cut” or scar the wood.

You want to remove the top layer of cells to reveal the golden sheen underneath. After the pressure washing is finished, go ahead and apply a wood brightener before it dries.

Wood brighteners help to lower the pH of the wood—especially if strippers have been applied—and open up the wood grain to be more accepting of a stain.

Wood brighteners also do just that, they enliven the color of the wood. Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener is a powdered concentrate that makes up to ten gallons. This eco-friendly concentrate comes in a small package and does a beautiful job of restoring your cedar’s natural essence.

Once those steps are completed, let the wood dry out for about 48 hours. If the wood is wet when you apply your stain, it won’t penetrate well and could cause the wood to deteriorate prematurely.

To finish this project, apply your stain. This Wagner Spraytech Stain Sprayer is an excellent time saver. It will evenly apply the stain on every surface in a fraction of the time compared to rolling or brushing.

Two coats of stain are recommended, especially for outdoor projects that get hit with sun, rain, heat, and cold. You often don’t even have to wait until the first coat has dried before adding the second coat because the first application of stain penetrates deep.

Are There Other Options To Keep Cedar wood From Turning Grey?

If all this sounds like too much work, or it’s simply too time-consuming then you can opt for the opaque stain alternative to keep your cedar from turning grey.

Let’s face it, the sun and outdoor elements do a number on wood.

No outdoor wood project is going to look new forever, and they all need routine maintenance to prevent rot and deterioration. But if you are looking for the least amount of work for your cedar project, opaque stains might be the best alternative.

Opaque stains offer the best UV protection, but they also cover all wood grain, leaving the most unnatural look of all. They come in all manner of colors, but they last the longest compared to clear and semi-transparent stains.

When you go with an opaque stain you typically won’t have to reapply it for three to five years. Depending on how much sun it gets, how hot the summer months are, and other factors, clear and semi-transparent stains may have to be applied either every year or every other year.

That’s All!

Cedar is a great outdoor wood for decks, fencing, siding, and other projects. It lasts a long time and offers beautiful colors. While some may enjoy the natural weathered look of grey cedar, others would rather keep the gorgeous glow of new cedar, but those colors have to be maintained.

There are a few options available to keep the youthful appearance of new cedar, but an oil-based stain is the best option. It may take some time to keep it looking good and will have to be applied every so often, but beauty must be nurtured and tended. 

References

Hoper, S. T., et al. “Evaluation of wood pretreatments on oak and cedar.” Radiocarbon 40.1 (1997): 45-50. 

De Groot, Rodney C., Bessie Woodward, and Paul E. Hennon. “Natural decay resistance of heartwood from dead, standing yellow-cedar trees: laboratory evaluations.” Forest products journal. Vol. 50, no. 1 (Jan. 2000).: p. 53-59: ill. (2000).

Lim, Young Woon, et al. “Fungal diversity from western redcedar fences and their resistance to β-thujaplicin.” Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 87.2 (2005): 109-117.

Fidah, Abdelwahed, et al. “Comparative natural durability of four Mediterranean softwoods against wood decay fungi.” Journal of the Indian Academy of Wood Science 13.2 (2016): 132-137.

Have you ever wondered about the brown inner parts of your cedar tree and what would happen if you trim them? We’ve got that and a lot more covered in this article! In reality, there’s a few simple reasons as to why cedar trees won’t grow back.

Cedar trees grow new growth from their old growth or dead zone. This means if you prune your cedar and cut into the dead zone, your tree may not come back. If you only prune the new growth, about a third of the way back, your cedar tree will keep growing.

Evergreens are prone to natural browning and seasonal needle drop, but sometimes this can be a hint at a bigger issue. Keep reading to learn more about what this means and why your cedar tree won’t grow back!

Will Your Damaged Cedar Tree Grow Back?

The first question to ask yourself is, what damaged your cedar tree? Is it because of the seasons, drought or water stress, pathogens, infestations, or something else?

If your cedar tree is damaged and turning brown in certain spots, it could be because of a variety of things. If it’s seasonal, it is natural for your cedar tree to be dropping needles.

When this happens, around summer to fall, your cedar tree will drop yellow and brown needles to make way for new ones. However, it may be difficult to tell the difference between this or other damage to your cedar tree.

Next up is drought or water stress. If you notice brown needles around the base of the tree, this can easily be attributed to dry conditions. It doesn’t always mean this is the issue, but if you don’t notice any bug damage or other signs of stress, try soaking it at least once a week and see if it helps.

On the other hand, if your tree is too water-logged, or in an area that stays too wet, it can be susceptible to root rot. This is often devastating to any tree.

If your tree turns brown on one side of the tree, this could be root rot. Armillaria root rot is a root disease specific to evergreens, including cedars. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this and your tree will not come back.

If you have a pest infestation, you might notice your cedar tree turning a dreaded brown. Pests like spider mites are common amongst cedar trees. Fortunately, you can use insecticidal soaps to rid your tree of infestations.

Most of the time, if your cedar is turning brown and has some slight damage, your tree will grow back. However, if it seems to affect your entire tree, there’s a good chance it could be on its way out.

The best thing to do in this situation if you are unsure is to contact tree professionals who can assess the situation properly!

Did you know many cedar trees have blue needles? They’re absolutely beautiful and super interesting to learn about.

Will My Cedar Tree Grow Back After Trimming?

Since cedar trees grow from new growth, you have to be especially careful when trimming or pruning them. 

Cedar trees have an inner area of the tree made up of deadwood called the dead zone. Fresh growth grows from the ends of the branches in the dead zone. This means new buds formed the previous year on the ends of branches. 

When trimming and pruning cedar trees, stay within the green portion of the branches. Do not stray into the old/brown/dead area you’re trimming, otherwise, your branches will not come back.

Will Deer Eaten Cedars Come Back?

So, there is a conflicting argument about whether deer will eat cedar trees, and if cedar trees are so-called “deer-resistant”. But like everything else, if the deer are hungry enough, they will eat whatever they can.

So while deer may not always choose to eat cedar, if it’s there in the winter, when everything else is gone, there’s a good chance they’ll eat it.

If you notice chomping on your cedar trees, the short answer is yes, your cedar tree will come back. However, this depends on the age and health of your cedar tree. If it’s a newly planted sapling or small cedar, or if it’s more mature, taller, and the majority of it is out of the deer’s reach.

If it’s a relatively young plant, there’s a good chance your tree might not come back because of the additional stress put on a young tree that’s already trying to adjust.

If it’s an older plant and the deer chow down on the dead zone area, those branches will not come back, but your tree will most likely survive. Established and healthy plants have a leg up in this situation.

You can combat this by using a deer spray, and one that works! Liquid Fence HG-70109 Animal Repellent works to repel deer. It can be used year round, even! The caveat to this though, is you will most likely have to alternate between it and the Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate.

Alternating between the two is one of the best ways to keep the deer at bay using products. Both deer repellents have quite the rough smell, which is why it works!

Should I Prune My Cedar?

This is probably the most important question to ask. Should you prune your cedar tree? The short answer is yes!

Pruning is a great way to give your tree the boost it needs by removing the unnecessary branches, meaning anything that is dying, dead, and turning bad on the tree. This will not only prolong the life of your tree, but it will also increase airflow, stimulate growth, and help protect it from pests and internal issues.

If you decide to do any trimming other the above, it will probably be to enhance the cedar’s shape. While this is okay to do, follow the above and do not trim into the dead zone or the brown interior area of the tree.

If you get close to that point, stop! If you’re trimming your cedar so it doesn’t look wild, only trim back about a third of the green growth. This will ensure your cedar grows back.

The next most important thing is when to prune your tree. Like most trees, you want to prune your cedar tree during the late winter and early spring to help prevent any infestations or diseases. Pruning during cooling temperatures ensures the tree will heal before insects emerge.

If you decide to prune your cedar tree, you’re going to need the right tools.

This list includes hand pruners, loppers, and a handsaw or pole saw. Don’t worry though, we’ve got some recommendations for you that are sure to have you pruning with ease.

Hand pruners are something you’ll want to keep in your landscaping tool chest. They are excellent for cutting branches less than ½ inch in diameter. The FELCO F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner is a great option for hand pruning your cedar tree, especially if you want to shape it.

Felcos are known for their durability and performance! They have steel blades and can cut branches like a champ. Although the price point is a bit steeper than some other hand pruners you may find, they are worth it!

Loppers are another great thing to have on hand. They help you reach those branches just a little higher up and the ones too thick for your hand pruners.

Loppers cut branches that are between ½ to 2 inches in diameter. The Fiskars 394801-1003 PowerGear2 Bypass Lopper is a wonderful set!

These cut branches like you’re cutting through butter! No, seriously! Loppers are the preferred method of pruning and trimming trees since they can help you get the job done quicker and more efficiently than regular hand pruners.

Pruning saws can be used for any larger diameter branches. The Fiskars 15 Inch Pruning Saw with Handle is another tool to have for any outdoor work. This pruning saw also cuts things with ease and makes outdoor work way easier.

Another tool we recommend having in your outdoor tool chest is a pole saw. You can’t beat the Fiskars Chain Drive 7–16 Foot Extendable Pole Saw & Pruner, which extends up to 16 feet high! Because of its steel pruner blade, it can cut branches up to 1 ¼ inch thick in diameter.

Because it’s extendable, you won’t have to always be dragging out the ladder when you want to reach those high-up branches. Because it is Fiskars, it also has a full lifetime warranty.

That’s A Wrap!

There you have it! Let’s recap why cedar trees won’t grow back and what you can expect!

Pruning is a great way to prolong the health and wellness of your cedar tree and give it the boost it needs. By removing the unnecessary branches, or anything that is dying, dead, and in poor shape.

This will not only prolong the life of your tree, but it will also increase airflow, stimulate growth, and help protect it from pests and pathogens.

Similar to most evergreens, when you prune a cedar tree, you have to be careful about how far back you’re pruning. Cedar trees grow new growth from their old growth, or what is referred to as the dead zone.

If you prune back into the dead zone, you’re cutting off the area where the new growth stemmed from, meaning your tree probably won’t come back. If you only prune the new growth, or the green part, before you get back into the brown, dead zone, roughly about a third of the way back, your tree will keep growing.

There are a variety of reasons your cedar tree could turn brown. Some of which are natural, from which your tree will come back. However, a handful of those reasons, like a pest infestation or Armillaria root rot, might mean your cedar tree is on its way out.

Additionally, if deer are chowing down on your cedar trees and start eating into that dead zone, anywhere they didn’t reach will continue to grow, but the parts in the dead zone are probably history.

That’s a wrap! Thanks for sticking around and learning why your cedar trees won’t grow back, and what to expect.

References

Alban, David H. “The influence of western hemlock and western redcedar on soil properties.” Soil Science Society of America Journal 33, no. 3 (1969): 453-457.

Engle, D. M., & Kulbeth, J. D. (1992). Growth dynamics of crowns of eastern red-cedar at 3 locations in Oklahoma. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 45(3), 301-305.

Prescott, C. E., & Preston, C. M. (1994). Nitrogen mineralization and decomposition in forest floors in adjacent plantations of western red cedar, western hemlock, and Douglas-fir. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 24(12), 2424-2431.

Ribbons, Relena R., David J. Levy-Booth, Jacynthe Masse, Sue J. Grayston, Morag A. McDonald, Lars Vesterdal, and Cindy E. Prescott. “Linking microbial communities, functional genes and nitrogen-cycling processes in forest floors under four tree species.” Soil Biology and Biochemistry 103 (2016): 181-191.

Zou, Chris B., Dirac Twidwell, Christine H. Bielski, Dillon T. Fogarty, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Patrick J. Starks, Rodney E. Will, Yu Zhong, and Bharat Sharma Acharya. “Impact of eastern redcedar proliferation on water resources in the Great Plains USA—current state of knowledge.” Water 10, no. 12 (2018): 1768.

As you are probably aware, trees need maintenance. Cedar trees are no exception to this rule and, though they are a relatively low-maintenance plant, you should keep up with their care. If you are looking for some important tips about how and why you should trim your cedar tree, you have ended up in the right spot!

In general, when trimming a cedar tree you’ll want to keep 5 important things in mind:

1. Locate which area of your tree needs trimming
2. Sanitize your shears before you trim
3. Keep your tools sharp
4. Avoid trimming too much off the top
5. Use the proper pruning shears

Before we dive into the methods to keep in mind when trimming a cedar tree, let’s discuss what might be going through your mind right about now. Why do we bother trimming our cedar trees in the first place?

Why Do You Need To Trim Cedar Trees?

Before reading on and learning about the process involved in trimming (or pruning) a cedar tree, we should talk about why these things are necessary to begin with. 

First up, trimming and pruning are going to be used pretty interchangeably here today. It’s worth mentioning that there is a difference between these two practices. 

What are the differences? Keep on reading to find out!

To avoid confusion, though, trimming and pruning are the same process, just with a different motive.

You may not have to trim some cedar trees as often as you think! Some varieties are among the slowest growing trees, which you can see here Slowest Growing Trees (And Why They Grow So Slow).

1. Makes The Cedar Tree Look Good

Trimming has more to do with the appearance of a tree and promoting healthy growth. 

You can think of this as a preemptive tactic to ensure your cedar tree looks good and grows well. 

Trimming may have to do with a branch here or there, or it may be an effort to allow your tree to put its energy into growing taller rather than wider, for example.

2. Limits Cedar Tree Overgrowth

Pruning a tree is done in the same way, but this is more of a curative technique. 

Cedar trees are pruned in response to disease, overgrowth, and other things already affecting the tree.

Now, we can talk about why one might need to trim or prune a tree. Most of these reasons can be preventative or curative, so it is up to your situation to decide if you are ‘pruning’ or ‘trimming’ a tree.

3. Promotes Healthy Cedar Tree Growth 

Since taking action ahead of time is ideal, you can prune your cedar tree even if there is no current sign of disease. 

In doing so, you will help to keep the branches healthy and your tree will flourish as it grows into a resilient organism. 

Unkempt cedar trees are more susceptible to disease and other issues. Since they are not as prepared to fight disease, they will struggle more than a well-trimmed tree will.

If there already have been some signs of disease, pruning your tree can help you nip that problem in the bud by removing any infected branches or sections of your cedar tree.

4. Avoids Overcrowding Of Branches

Cedar trees are often more susceptible to issues when they are not trimmed because overcrowding of branches allows for disease, parasites, and more to spread rapidly throughout the entire canopy.

By trimming your cedar tree regularly, you can avoid this overcrowding. This creates a healthy amount of space between branches for your tree to grow and get the sunlight and air it needs most. 

This has benefits beyond the overall health of your tree, though. By keeping the crowding to a minimum, your tree will also look more maintained.

5. Keeps Your Cedar Tree Looking Maintained 

An aesthetic appeal may be your primary goal for growing a cedar tree. It also may be something you have never considered. 

No matter which side you lean toward, a happy and healthy cedar tree looks better. 

You can trim your tree and get so many benefits from just this one action. 

Now, your branches will not be overcrowded, but your cedar tree itself is likely to look more maintained, if not carefully sculpted, for the intention of appearance. 

What else is trimming your tree good for, beyond disease avoidance and visual appeal? 

Well, general growth, of course!

6. Encourages General Growth And Cedar Tree Structure As It Ages

While it is important to think about things such as best and worse case scenarios, things your cedar tree gets attention over or even worse case scenario for your cedar tree, the middle ground is key. 

Trimming a cedar tree can significantly help it maintain its ability to grow over a period because you keep it healthy and cared for. 

The structure of the cedar tree also benefits when branches are kept relatively even, and your cedar has the chance to focus its energy on growth and self-maintenance rather than fighting disease or being weighed to one side. So, if you want your cedar tree to reach it’s natural lifespan of 100-150 years, pruning is crucial.

Even if you are at the point where you have to prune a tree to solve some issues, your tree will reap this benefit, regardless. So worth it!

5 Simple Tips To Know When Trimming Your Cedar Tree

Alright, get excited! It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: the 5 best tips for trimming cedar trees.

We know it has been a journey to get to this point, but the background knowledge above could play a big role in how successful your trimming and/or pruning efforts are.

Here are a few steps you can take to ensure you are trimming your cedar tree effectively. 

Of course, like anything, there will always be a bit of variability depending on your situation and your tree (or trees, we don’t know!)

They are pretty standard places to start, though, so we feel confident that you will leave this piece feeling ready to care for your cedar like never before. 

Without further ado, the 5 things to keep in mind:

1. Locate Which Area Needs Trimming

Cedar trees have live zones and dead zones. It is important to know that pruning around dead zones can cause more problems and your tree will risk permanent deformation. 

You should search the live zone of the tree to see what dead parts you need to prune away.

The University of Idaho Extension explains the dead zone is that part of the tree branches closest to the trunk where leaves may not grow or branches may differ from their external-facing relatives. 

You should locate the live zone, where leaves are actively and clearly growing, and see what dead branches or sections may need to be removed within that part of the cedar tree’s foliage.  

2. Sanitize Shears

The University of Missouri’s IMP helps us out here by telling us about the following ways to sanitize shears between uses. 

Not only does this preserve your shears for longer, keeping them from rusting at a young age, but it also helps to keep any disease from accidentally being spread between different trees.

Two of the main types of alcohol you can use for sanitation are ethanol or isopropyl. You can simply wipe the blades without needing much of a second thought.

Both types of alcohol can be found at the grocery store pharmacy. So, keep an eye out for labels and prices before you decide on one. 

If you own rubbing alcohol, this typically will contain a high isopropyl alcohol content which you can use to disinfect and shine your blades after just a few moments. So, save a little cash and use what you have on hand.

You can also combine 9 parts of water with one part bleach, though this takes longer to make and requires the blades to soak. Realistically, you will want to stick with the alcohol option.

Regardless of which method you are comfortable with or have access to, sanitizing your tools is an essential part of the pruning/trimming process. 

Taking care of your tree is minimized when you use tools that might spread disease and actively harm new plants. 

3. Keep Tools Sharp

This may not be something that you think of right off the bat. That’s okay, most people probably don’t. 

However, keeping your tools sharp is a huge part of successfully trimming your cedar tree. Dull blades can also give way to significant damage. 

Think of it like this- instead of resulting in a clean cut, using dull blades will cause rough, uneven ones. Your bark (and what’s left of the branch) might tear more because of this, and larger wounds will appear.

Hopefully, by now you can see the direct correlation between the size of a wound, the time it takes to heal, and how a tree is extra susceptible to problems during that healing stage.

4. Avoid Trimming Too Much Off The Top Of Your Cedar Tree

Taking too much off the top of your tree, also known as topping a tree, most often occurs when a tree has bypassed the area it was expected to fill. 

To avoid this and consider where you planted your tree to begin with. 

However, we know this is not likely something in your control unless you have lived on or owned land for decades. 

So, when topping/trimming a cedar tree, you should be careful to never take more than ¼ of the tree’s entire height. Trimming as little as possible from the top is ideal. 

The top of the cedar tree grows back at a painstakingly slow pace, so you will want to be prepared for this new appearance for a good amount of time.

5. Use The Proper Pruning Tools

If you use a good pair of bypass hand pruners like these Gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears, your tree will be in good hands. These small hand trimmers can cut through 3/4 inch branches, depending on species.

If you need a little further reach, this Fiskars PowerGear2 Bypass Lopper will surely do the trick. They are 32 inches long, and can cut through branches 2 inches thick with ease.

Both products are meant for trimming and pruning trees, so you will have the right tools for your needs.

Just do not forget what we said above about keeping those tools clean… and sharp!

Keeping Cedar Trees Healthy Long-Term

While the preventative trimming and curative pruning practices are important to helping your cedar live a long life full of growth, they are not the only factors to be considered. 

Here are a few other things to keep in mind when caring for a cedar tree:

Keep Your Cedar Tree Hydrate

Like every other plant, cedar trees need water. They must receive enough water to help them make use of things like nutrients, sunlight, and other things that help them grow.

Even if all other factors are just right, a lack of water creates a big issue when it comes to the ability of a cedar tree to maintain a stable growth rate.  

Especially if you live in a region with less rainfall. This is something you should always keep in the back of your mind.

Sprinklers used at intervals throughout the day can help to keep this shallow-rooted plant hydrated without being over-watered. 

You might try this Orbit Battery Operated Sprinkler Timer with a Valve to regulate your tree’s hydration levels. It can run 4 stations with up to 8 start times. It can also run from 1-240 minutes at a time.

As long as the soil remains moist, but does not have pools of water, you should be in good shape!

Keep Your Cedar Tree Fertilized

A 30-10-10 fertilizer is great for cedar trees. 

Yeah, great, but…what is that??

Those 3 numbers you see above are called an NPK value. This is a formula that deals with the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels of fertilizer.

As you can now see, this formula has a balanced amount of potassium and phosphorus while containing less nitrogen, because cedars do not need as much of it. 

The NPK ratio allows for plants to get the nutrients they need, as opposed to potentially wasting nutrients. If a tree does not need certain nutrients, it will not absorb them.

If you are looking to get a good 30-30-10 fertilizer, we recommend you start with this Southern Ag Max Acid Water Soluble Fertilizer. Not only does it offer just the right NPK ratio, but it is also water-soluble, which is an important factor when talking about fertilizing cedar trees.

Why Is Trimming Cedar Trees Important?

Alright, finally, before we can discuss the important factors to keep in mind while trimming or pruning cedar trees, we need to mention why proper pruning matters so much. 

Improperly pruned cedar trees can pose a threat to the community for a few reasons. We want you to have this information so you do not waste time, money, or effort to get the best results.

Avoiding Undue Stress On Your Cedar Tree

If you improperly prune your cedar tree, you open it up to many stressors, which are unhealthy at best and detrimental at worst. 

Instead of helping (or saving) a tree, improper pruning practices can cause more damage than existed at the start. 

If you cut the cedar tree too close to or too far from the trunk, your tree will be the subject of irreversible damage. 

What does it mean, though?

The California Rare Fruit Growers help define these types of cuts, between a stub cut and a flush cut.

A stub cut is a cut made too far outside of the branch collar (too far from the trunk of the tree.) 

The remaining stub will have enough material left to become diseased as the stub itself decays. This presents a problem when the disease spreads to the rest of the healthy cedar tree.

A flush cut is the exact opposite, where the cut is far too close to the trunk. This cut has been made inside of the branch collar, which causes unnecessary damage to the stem tissues of the cedar tree.

So, if you cut too close to the trunk, it will leave the open wound on the cedar tree where the branch once sat open for longer. The time this kind of cut can take to heal leads to damage such as cracks, decay, and other fissures in the tree trunk.

Essentially, if you cut a cedar branch too much or too little, decay is imminent.

This is a great example of why it is so important to do your research or, if you are most comfortable, enlist the help of an expert.

Limits Potential Weakening Of A Branch That Could Fall Later

On the same note about how issues in pruning can lead to decay, decay can lead to other parts of your tree severely weakening. 

Not only is this not healthy, but it is also dangerous. Eventually, with little warning, a cedar branch could very well fall from the tree and cause a boatload of problems.

We’ll leave you with those notes for now, but trust us when we tell you that taking the time to prune correctly is so worth the effort. Not only for you and your tree but for those around you.

That’s A Wrap!

Alright, well, that’s what we’ve got for you today. 

We hope this helps you as you work to care for your cedar tree in the best way. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece!

Best of luck as you continue along your tree journey, and remember- we are always here to help guide you along the way. 

Until next time, cheers.

References

Badrulhisham, N., & Othman, N. (2016). Knowledge in tree pruning for sustainable practices in urban setting: improving our quality of life. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 234, 210-217.

Drenou, C. (2000). Pruning trees: the problem of forks. Journal of Arboriculture, 26(5), 264-269.

Kojima, Y., Kato, Y., Takeda, H., & Yoon, S. L. (2013). Changes of extractives in pruning shoot of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) during storing and pelletizing. Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan, 38(3), 467-471.