How to get rid of a Cedar Tree?

Cedar or Cedrus trees belong to the coniferous variety of trees and can be found in the higher altitude regions where the temperature doesn’t drop below -13F. This species is characterized by its spicy, woody smell and is often used for timber as well as for making perfumes. They can grow to mammoth proportions and the Eastern Red Cedar is also known to be an invasive species.

Let’s take a look at how to remove Cedrus Trees as well as how to kill the root system.

How to Kill Cedar Trees?

When looking for fast techniques to kill Cedrus Trees, the preferred method should be something that is fast, easy to use, and cost-effective.

Some of the most popular methods are:

• Foliar Spray
• Cutting the tree down and treating the stump with Herbicides
• Gridling or ring barking
• Basal Bark treatment
• Injecting the tree with killing chemicals
• Cut surface treatment

If you wish to learn more about each of these methods, make sure to check my article on how to kill trees.

One thing which you should keep in mind is that other than cutting the tree down, the above methods will only end up killing the tree. In some instances, you will have to remove the Cedar once it is dead.

The best way to kill a small Cedar tree

A small Cedrus tree can is considered to be 20-25 feet tall.

There are two optimal methods to kill a small Cedar:

1. either use Basal Bark Treatment if the diameter of the trunk is less than 6-7 inches.
2. Or you can simply cut the tree down and treat the stump with a herbicide like Tordon RTU or Roundup to prevent further tree growth. This can be a good option to use (not affiliate link).

Basal Bark Treatment

For this method, you will need a backpack sprayer for spraying the chemical, a strong herbicide, and an oil-based solvent.

Make sure you are wearing protective gear before you start.

1. Ideally, you should choose herbicides which contain Trycloper or Trycloper Ester as the main chemical. For example, Garlon 4 Ultra, Relegate, Forestry Garlon XRT, Aligare Trycloper are good choices. This from Amazon would do the trick (affiliate link).
2. The solvent to mix the herbicide in would be diesel, basal oil, fuel oil or kerosene.
3. The ideal proportion for mixing should be 1 part herbicide and 4-part solvent, so about 20-25% concentration.
4. Some type of herbicides in the market can directly be used without needing to mix with an oil-based solvent, like ‘Pathfinder II’, but these herbicides are typically more expensive. There are a lot of varieties in the market, so make sure to read the label before using them.
5. Once you have the solution, spray the bottom 3 feet of the trunk with this solution and let it dry out, repeat this process again for better efficency.

Make sure that it is not raining and the tree is not wet while performing basal bark treatment as the chemicals are hydrophobic.

Cutting the tree down and treating the stump with a concentrated herbicide would be the fastest way to kill a Cedar. This is really helpful if you are dealing with the Eastern Red Cedar which is considered to be invasive.

Here are my recommended herbicides.

The best way to kill a large Cedar tree

A mature Cedrus tree can grow to mammoth proportions, sometimes growing to about 200 feet tall. If you are not in favor of using chainsaws, a combination of Ringbarking and Cut Surface Treatment would be suitable here.

Ringbarking

Ringbarking would be the easiest and the most efficient method for killing a large Cedrus as it will stop the nutrient flow from the roots to the stems and the leaves.

1. You will need to either get a big hatchet or chainsaw for this method.
2. Remove a ring of bark around the entire tree, about 4-8 inches wide.
3. For extra measure, spray some concentarted herbicide along the exposed bark.

The herbicide is typically not used for ringbarking, but it helps to stop the nutrient flow within the tree. It is a good extra measure to take if the tree is huge.

Cut Surface Treatment

1. Take an axe or a chainsaw and cut 2-3-inch-deep gashes into the trunk of the Cedrus, all around the circumference. The cuts have to penetrate cambium layer of the tree.
2. Within 15 minutes of making the cuts, spray some herbicide like Tordon RTU into the cuts and let it absorb. You can use this ‘Dow AgroSciences Tordon’ From Amazon. (affiliate link)
3. Spray another coat to speed up the process.

You can also cut the tree down but because of its massive size, it is highly recommended to hire a professional service, especially if you don’t have prior experience.

What is the best time to kill a Cedar Tree?

It is preferred that you kill Cedrus during late spring and early summers as the tree has used all of its carbohydrate reserves to grow new leaves. Cutting off the nutrient supply will help kill the Cedar quicker.

Things to consider while removing a tree on your own

Cedrus trees can grow to more than 150 feet tall, which makes it quite tricky to remove especially if you don’t have prior experience felling trees.

Once the tree is dead, it will eventually start decomposing and can potentially fall over the nearby property, especially in windy conditions since the tree is tall.

To remove the tree, you will have to get it cut down, transported, and get the wood recycled. There are going to be a lot of logistical issues due to the size of the cedar.

Because of the invasive root structure of some Cedar species, it is important for you to kill them in the early stages of growth, especially if you are dealing with Eastern Red Cedars.

Should you hire a professional tree removal service?

If your Cedrus is young and small, you can manage to kill it yourself. On the other hand, if the tree is big, it can get quite tricky.

From killing trees to getting them cut down and transported, there are a lot of factors to consider, and hiring a professional will take care of most of these problems. A professional service will also remove and fix the damage that the roots have caused to your home or nearby property.

You can read my post about tree removal service costs here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you kill a Cedar without cutting it down?

Yes, the preferred methods for killing a Cedar without cutting it down would be a combination of Ringbarking and Cut surface treatment if the tree is big. If the tree is small, go for basal bark treatment.

Can you use the Foliar Spray technique with Cedrus trees?

It is not recommended to use the Foliar Spray technique on Cedar as the needle-shaped leaves won’t have enough surface area to absorb the herbicide. You can use Foliar spray, but it won’t be as effective.

Can you use Vinegar to kill a Cedrus tree?

Even though you can use undiluted vinegar to kill shoots and even shrubs, it won’t be effective at all when dealing with a large tree as Cedrus.

Conclusion

To kill a Cedar, the most effective way would be to cut it down. Alternatively, you can use Girdling and Cut Surface Treatment combined to kill the Cedar without cutting it down.

Recommended reading:

• How to kill a Bay tree