Kansas’ Eastern Red Cedar: Balancing Tradition and Conservation

  June 28, 2024

Did you know that Kansas has only one native evergreen tree? 

That tree is the Eastern Red Cedar. 

Long before European settlement, the Eastern Red Cedar is believed to only be found in areas where fire couldn’t reach such as bluffs or steep slopes. Due to their ability to grow near each other and their hardiness to extreme weather, they became the ideal candidate for windbreaks and shelterbelts since the 1930s. 

So, what’s the big deal? 

Since 1965 Eastern Red Cedar populations in Kansas have increased by over 23,000% and exponentially rising. These trees bring their lowest branches close to the ground, which in turn makes it easy for fire to carry from dry grasses onto the lowest limbs. This foliage contains oils the ignite and burn easy, causing these trees to burn extremely hot. One mature cedar tree can have flames of over 50 feet! 

Cedar infested areas are known to displace quail, turkeys, and other grassland birds as well. Due to their ability to dominate and outcompete local plant life, a densely wooded cedar patch will starve grasses and other plants of water, nutrients, and sunlight.

So, how do I manage cedar trees in my pasture or around my house? 

The good news is that it isn’t hard to eliminate small cedar trees growing in a pasture. A prescribed burn is extremely effective on trees six feet tall or smaller (if it is conducted safely). If a prescribed pasture burn isn’t feasible, then cutting Cedars off below the lowest branches with garden cutters is enough to kill these trees. 

Bigger trees may require mechanical removal. An inexpensive way to reduce the risk of fire on bigger trees is by trimming branches that hang low to the ground to mitigate the chance of fire carrying from grasses onto the tree. 

It’s best to take care of them early. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment. 

Today, while still being useful as windbreaks and shelterbelts, we are seeing an exponential rise in cedar tree populations. Where Tallgrass Prairie once covered over 170 million acres of North America, providing a vast prairie ecosystem, less than 4% remains intact; and most of this is in the Flint Hills. Thankfully, using management practices, we can mitigate the growth of the Eastern Red Cedar trees.

Gene Francis & Associates knows land and this year we are celebrating 40 years. Call us today to discuss all your real estate needs.