Efficacy and costs of controlling eastern redcedar by John Ortmann et al. Control methods include broadcast prescribed fire, herbicides, cutting, and individual tree ignition. All methods have disadvantages when used alone. Fire can be ineffective against larger trees.
Intensive methods can be too expensive for low-productivity grasslands.
Treatments were applied at a central Nebraska rangeland site in 1993 and 1994. Total mortality due to treatment combinations generally was higher in 1993, when burning conditions were more favorable. Prescribed fire should precede intensive treatment applications if possible, both to reduce costs and improve total effectiveness. Because the costs and effectiveness of burning followed by either picloram or cutting are similar, managers should choose the method most suitable to individual circumstances.