Removing Cedar Trees

My land is full of Eastern Red Cedars. I've read they hinder growth on surrounding plants and can definitely see that the ground around every cedar is bare and infertile. So I'll be clearing out a place for my house and garden soon and was just wondering how far away cedar trees should be from areas where I want to grow other plants and trees? Is 20 ft enough?

I don't believe that red cedars could make the ground bare and infertile around themselves. They are a pioneer species specifically adapted to colonize bare dry ground. Many trees and plants will grow along with them. What is the history of your land?, what happened before the cedars came in?
I have seen them growing many places along with oaks, hickories, maples, witch hazels, and an abundance of shrubs and herbs.

Akiva Silver wrote:I don't believe that red cedars could make the ground bare and infertile around themselves. They are a pioneer species specifically adapted to colonize bare dry ground. Many trees and plants will grow along with them. What is the history of your land?, what happened before the cedars came in?
I have seen them growing many places along with oaks, hickories, maples, witch hazels, and an abundance of shrubs and herbs.

I wish I knew more about the land's history but unfortunately I only know that the guy who owned it before me was a guy from the city who owned it a few years before abandoning the idea of moving to the country. It has tons of trees. Back in the area of the woods where there are lots of hardwoods, the soil is beautiful under the leaf litter. But in the front area where there are pretty much only cedars the soil looks poisoned around every cedar. In open areas where there are no cedars there is some grass but it's rough looking grass. It's certainly not the most fertile land for sure, but I was hoping removing some cedars would help it a bit.

Hi Brandon! When we were looking around for land, the developers always made it a point to let us know they've removed all or most of the cedar. The reason is because cedar will take up whatever water is there, leaving other plants/trees very thirsty. My guess is however large the root system of the desired tree/bush is going to be, make sure the cedar is outside of that radius. HTH!

Hi Dinah. Do you happen to know what the radius of the cedars is?

They do suck up a lot of water. They also are a huge fire hazard. But they are good shelter/habitat for animals (wild or domestic). We don't eliminate them, but do thin them. Highland cattle will control them--cedar is like catnip to them and they will rub the trees down.