How to Keep Cedar Trees Healthy

Cedar trees are evergreen trees that can reach upwards of 70 feet and grow best in zones 7 through 9. They spread to widths of 20 to 40 feet, so it is best to plant them in areas where they will have plenty of room. Cedars can do fine in various soils and form pyramid shapes as they mature. You can generally keep these tress healthy with some basic care, but there are a few things that you must keep an eye out for, such as disease.

• 1

  Water cedars during dry periods to keep the ground damp. Do not over water, however, as they don't do well in soggy soil.

• 2

  Route water away from the tree if the area gets too much water during rains. Standing water or soggy soil indicates that the tree isn't growing in well draining soil. Make two trenches on either side of the cedar to divert heavy surface water flow in another direction and keep the soil from being water logged. Start the trenches near the tree at a shallow depth of about 1 inch and angle them downward as you dig out from the tree at rate of 1 inch per 4 feet. Make the trenches 2 to 3 inches wide, and fill them with gravel. Cover with top soil and mulch when done.

• 3

  Cut out dead or dying branches near the main trunk.

• 4

  Fertilize the soil around the cedar in late fall if it seems to be turning color or drooping. Use a granular fertilizer with a slow-release nitrogen so as not to create weak roots in the cedar. Apply at half the suggested rate on the package. Sprinkle the granules by hand starting about 3 or 4 feet from the base of the tree.

• 5

  Remove diseased limbs, such as those with cedar apple rust fungus. Cut limbs from the tree near the trunk using a tree trimmer. Spray the tree with an herbicide to kill the disease. Apply the herbicide in quantities as suggested on the label of the brand you choose. Fill a garden sprayer with the chemical and spray it up in the tree to coat the limbs and vegetation. Do this when there isn't any rain forecast.