What is the Planting Interval for Red Cedar?

Size

• The red cedar tree grows to a height of 30 to 35 feet with a branch spread of 12 to 15 feet, and it grows 12 to 18 inches annually. The canopy spread is important to consider when plotting the planting interval. The thick, compact nature of the long-lived foliage, combined with the low positioning of the tree's branches, makes red cedar a fine specimen for windbreaks, whether utilized in multiple or single rows.

Spacing

• Red cedars should be planted 6 to 10 feet apart, and the interval between rows should be 6 to 18 feet. Red cedars purchased at a nursery usually are 2 year-old container or bare-root specimens that measure 8 to 12 inches tall. They can be expected to grow more than 1 foot in their first year.

Windbreak Spacing

• When red cedars are utilized in rows of trees and shrubs as part of a windbreak, they should be placed in the outer rows of the windbreak, where they won't be overshadowed by larger trees. In this scenario, the planting interval for red cedar depends on the potential mature size of the trees and shrubs that will be planted next to and behind the red cedars.

Considerations

• Red cedar seedlings should be placed in a weed-free bed with firm soil, and the hole or furrow should be able to contain the entire root system. Landscapers and owners of large properties who are ascertaining the proper planting interval for red cedar should take into account that the tree can be invasive when placed in minimally managed ranges or pastures. This is especially true when the pH level of the soil is neutral or the land is heavily grazed by livestock or wild animals.