Cedar Tree Removal in Leander & the Hill Country: Should Your Ashe Junipers Go?

What Central Texans call "cedar" is Ashe juniper, and it's everywhere west of I-35: on Leander lots, along Cedar Park greenbelts and across Liberty Hill acreage. Many homeowners want some of it gone. Here's how to decide what to remove and what to keep.

Why people remove cedar

• Cedar fever. Male Ashe junipers release huge amounts of pollen in winter, roughly December through February, and for many people it means weeks of allergy misery.
• Fire risk. Cedar is oily and burns hot. Dense cedar close to a house adds fuel near the structure. See wildfire defensible space.
• Crowding. Thick cedar can shade out grass, wildflowers and young oaks.
• Views and space. Clearing a cedar thicket can open up a backyard or a lot dramatically.

Why you might keep some

Not all cedar is bad. Mature cedar provides shade, privacy screening, erosion control on slopes and habitat for wildlife. In parts of the Hill Country, old-growth Ashe juniper is nesting habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, which can put restrictions on clearing larger, undeveloped tracts. If you own acreage with mature cedar woodland, check before large-scale clearing.

A middle ground many homeowners choose:

• remove cedar close to the house and under oaks,
• thin dense thickets instead of clearing everything,
• keep a few mature specimens for screening and shade.

Cedar vs. your oaks

Cedar growing up under and through live oaks competes for water and light. Clearing cedar from under oak canopies is one of the most common jobs in western Williamson County and often helps the oaks.

Be careful with timing near oaks, though. Clearing work that wounds oak roots or limbs should follow oak wilt timing (avoid February through June), and any oak wounds should be painted. See when to trim oak trees.

What cedar removal costs

Rough planning ranges, not quotes:

• Single cedar tree, yard setting: often $200 – $800 depending on size and access
• Cedar thicket or brush clearing: usually priced by area and density. See lot and brush clearing costs.
• Stump grinding: cedar stumps don't resprout, so many people leave low-cut stumps in natural areas. In lawns, grinding is cleaner. See stump grinding costs.

Does cedar grow back?

Ashe juniper generally doesn't resprout from a stump cut below the lowest green branch. But seedlings come back quickly from seed, so a cleared area needs occasional follow-up to stay clear.

Best time to clear cedar

Cedar itself can be cut any time of year. Many homeowners like to remove male trees before pollen season starts in December. If oaks are nearby, plan heavy clearing outside February through June.

Frequently asked questions

Should I remove cedar trees from my yard? Remove cedar that's close to the house, under oaks, or causing allergy or fire concerns. Keeping some mature cedar for shade and screening is a reasonable middle ground.

Do cedar trees grow back after cutting? Ashe juniper usually doesn't resprout from a low-cut stump, but new seedlings appear, so cleared areas need light follow-up.

When is cedar fever season in Central Texas? Roughly December through February, when male Ashe junipers release pollen.

How much does cedar tree removal cost in Leander? A single yard cedar often runs about $200 to $800 depending on size and access. Thickets and brush are usually priced by area.

Get a cedar removal quote

Use the form below with photos of the cedar and what's around it. We can quote individual trees or a full cedar clearing. More on our tree service.