Cedar Tree Removal in Wichita, KS

Cedar tree removal around Wichita usually involves eastern redcedar, the native juniper that shows up in windbreaks, along fence lines and in the corners of older yards. Birds spread the seeds, so cedars come up in places nobody planted them, and they grow into dense, prickly cones that block views, crowd out grass, and hold dead brown foliage on the inside. Cedars are on the Kansas Forest Service's preferred evergreen list for this region when they are in the right spot. The problem is the ones in the wrong spot.

Why cedars are simpler to remove than most trees

K-State Research and Extension's guide to controlling unwanted trees says eastern redcedar will not resprout after cutting. That makes a cedar different from a Siberian elm or a hackberry, which sprout back from the stump. A cedar cut flush with the ground is gone for good, so many cedar jobs need only a low cut and cleanup, with stump grinding added only where you want to mow, plant or build over the spot.

Bagworms and browning cedars

Bagworms are the pest most Wichita homeowners notice on cedars and junipers. K-State says they feed on many trees and shrubs but especially junipers and arborvitae. The larvae hatch in May and build small bags of silk and foliage that grow to 1 to 2 inches by late summer and hang from the branches like ornaments. K-State's timing advice is to spray in the latter half of June, and it warns that controls applied in August are often a waste of time and money. A cedar that has been stripped bare for several years may be easier to replace than to nurse back.

Cedar windbreaks and fence rows

On acreages at the edge of Wichita and out in the county, cedars often stand in long rows, sometimes mixed with dying Scots pines from old windbreak plantings. Clearing a row is a different job from removing one yard tree: the trees are cut, dragged out and chipped in volume, and access along a fence is planned so gates and wire are not damaged. If you want to keep part of a windbreak for wind and snow protection, we can take out only the dead and crowded trees.

What happens to the cedar

Cedar wood is aromatic and rot-resistant, and some owners keep the trunks for posts or projects. Most of the brush is chipped; cedar chips make a long-lasting mulch for paths and beds. Anything you do not want is hauled away. Burning brush piles inside Wichita requires a fire department permit and 250 feet of clearance from property lines and buildings, which rules it out on most city lots.