Clearing Eastern Red Cedar Trees from 12 acres

[macecase]

I have 12 acres of Eastern red cedar trees that need to be removed to create a cattle pasture. My thought is to attach a tree pincher to my skid steer (which I have available to borrow) and go through the pasture, clip the trees, pile them and then burn them.

I see this as somewhat of a waste. I figure there has to be some use for these trees.

Cutting them down and milling them into lumber is not an option because they are not large enough. I estimate their age to be between eight and 12 years old.

I am very interested in suggestions on what to do with these trees. Or, if the only option is to cut them down and burned them, any suggestions on how to make that as quick and easy of a process as possible.

Thank you for watching and for your suggestions. Remember, mow your pastures so the eastern red Cedar tree does not take them over!

 

[newbury]

Short fenceposts?

 

[smstonypoint]

I don't think the young cedars have any economic value other than as Christmas trees. A skid-steer mulcher would make quick work of clearing the acreage.

Steve

 

[Western]

Fence post or stay's are very common in Texas, last along time. Cedar are easy to push with an FEL, roots and all, very shallow.

 

[macecase]

What is an FEL?

 

[k0ua]

What is an FEL?

FEL= Front End Loader.. all of those trees are ripe for pushing over with a FEL. Just the right size. Wait a day or 2 after a rain, and go to town. Gets roots and all, and no stump. Just push into the tree, and get sharp edge of your bucket hooked in the bark, and then lift, curl and push all at the same time. Plop, out they come.. Hydrostat transmission makes this easy without slipping a clutch, and wearing it out. Heck you might be able to charge local tractor owners to come and pop out the trees! In a Tom Sawyer fence painting kind of way!:laughing:

 

[RxRatedZ71]

The comment about pushing them over is true. If you've got bucket teeth, you could hit the tree low at a dumping angle and they typically will pop right over. Then back up and push the root ball and the other side's roots will come out. My FEL w/o bucket teeth worked well.

I know some wildlife fisheries lakes like to sink cedars for fish habitat. Not sure about ideas of being profitable. The cedar eating job is lucrative. Oklahoma has a registry of cedar tree owners that are willing to let the harvesters come in and eradicate them on your property...see link below.

http://www.forestry.ok.gov/ercregistry

Sent from my Motorola Moto X using TractorByNet

 

[Western]

Want to be carefull on the amount of cedar you add to a pond, they will raise the acidity.

 

[Ed of all trades]

A large number of them could be bush hogged. I know you can't do it with a light duty or even med duty hog but many or most could be done with a heavy hog and a good tractor. We used to hog down anything we could ride down with a ford jubilee. It would be faster than pushing by a good bit and you don't have to pile and burn.

 

[Western]

Robert, if you have access to a skid-steer and a FEL, you are good to go!! They even have a grubbing attachment for the skid steer, your friend may already have one.
Here's what they look like.
New Stump Grubber Bucket Skid Steer Loader Fits Bobcat | eBay

 

[bravo2zero]

Contact or look up bow hunters. There are commercial bow makers that love to make bows out of cedars. I know because I have a gentleman that wants to do the same thing with some of our trees. Just an idea.

 

[newbury]

Found the ideal solution!!

Ball and burlap them!
Eastern Red Cedars Trees For Sale

Good for screening all sizes prices for non install 4-5 ft $35- 5-6ft-$50- 6-7ft -$60 - 7-8-$75- 8-10- $125- Prices for install -5-6ft- $75- 6-7- $120 - 7-8- $150- 8-10- $200 For non install trees there will be a delivery charge.

 

[bravo2zero]

Even a better idea! Good thinking whoever came up with that?

 

[smstonypoint]

Found the ideal solution!!

Ball and burlap them!
Eastern Red Cedars Trees For Sale

Even a better idea! Good thinking whoever came up with that?

I think I would put "pencil to paper" before concluding that this would be economically feasible for the OP. What are the equipment requirements and the costs of a "ball and burlap" operation? What does he do with the equipment when he has cleared the 12 acres? What are the labor requirements? What is the market for the product in the OP's area?

Steve

 

[DT86]

What does he do with the equipment when he has cleared the 12 acres?

Not to mention what you'd do about all the holes in the ground!

 

[smstonypoint]

Not to mention what you'd do about all the holes in the ground!

That, too.

Steve

 

[My Gym]

They are of no value. Get rid of them as fast as possible. If they are cut below the lowest branch they will die. They kill grass, hog water, and are a fire hazard since they will burn green. I researched eastern red cedars extensively before removing them from my property in Nebraska. The only cedars that are valuable are large old growth and ones that have grown in very dense growth that are very tall with few branches. Easier to remove limbs and straight and uniform for posts. Cedar mulching operations want 8" logs with a minimum of 4" diameter at the small end with no branches. From the looks of your land I would check into prescribed burning.

 

[k0ua]

I call them "gasoline trees". They burn fast green, and a dried out one burns at the speed of gasoline fumes... WHOOSH! :shocked:

 

[newbury]

Found the ideal solution!!

Ball and burlap them!
Eastern Red Cedars Trees For Sale

GAD!
I thought you guys would see the sarcasm!
Only in the Urban area can you turn a virtual weed into a valuable commodity.

 

[KYDan]

We have them in abundance in Kentucky and they have no discernible value as smaller trees and they are very resilient. They will split and bend when you are trying to push them over and it may not be as easy as you might think. They make FEL and skid steer hydraulic cutters that work well and make below ground cuts. If you can rent one of these you will be dollars ahead. Old growth trees can be valuable for closet liners as the cedar is a moth deterrent and some people like the smell. I used some of them I had from the larger trees to make 8' 2"x6" planks, they make a decent deck and it is quite attractive. Some wood workers like it for the color, grain, and ease of working as it is a soft wood. The cheapest option would be to hire it done if you don't have the equipment. The red heartwood lasts a long time. Good luck.