Clearing encroaching cedar or juniper typically costs $500 to $1,500 per acre where the trees are young and scattered, $1,500 to $3,500 per acre for moderate stands, and $3,500 to $6,000 or more per acre where mature cedar has closed over the ground. Treat every figure on this page as a starting point rather than a quote: these are realistic averages, and rates vary considerably between regions, from Texas and Oklahoma through the Great Plains and into Canada.
Eastern redcedar, Ashe juniper and related species are native trees across much of North America, but on grazing land they behave like an invasive problem. Without regular fire they spread into pasture and rangeland, shade out grass, use a large share of the available water and leave ground that supports far fewer head of livestock. The earlier a stand is cleared, the cheaper it is, because a cedar that is easy to mulch at five feet tall becomes a much bigger job at twenty.
Recommended Equipment
Skid steer with a forestry mulcher, plus a dozer or excavator for large mature trees. The mulcher grinds young and mid-size cedar where it stands and leaves the ground covered; a dozer is the efficient machine for pushing and piling large stands on open rangeland, and an excavator handles individual big trees on rough or rocky ground.
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What actually drives the price
Density and tree size set the tier. Scattered young cedar with open grass between them is quick work. Continuous stands of mature trees with trunks over six inches and branches down to the ground take much longer per acre, and very large trees may need to be cut and handled separately rather than mulched standing.
Terrain is a big factor in cedar country, which is often rocky, sloped or broken ground. Rock is hard on mulching teeth, and steep slopes limit which machines can work safely, so expect higher rates on rough hill country than on flat pasture.
The method changes the price. Forestry mulching leaves the ground covered and ready to grow back to grass. Mechanical removal with a dozer followed by piling and burning can be cheaper on some large tracts, but it disturbs more soil and needs burn permits and suitable weather.
Acreage and access affect the rate too. Large contiguous tracts are cheaper per acre than scattered patches, because the machine spends its time working rather than moving.
Keeping it from coming back
Most cedar and Ashe juniper do not resprout from a stump cut below the lowest green branch, which is one reason mechanical clearing works well on them. The seed in the soil and birds carrying seed from neighboring land will bring seedlings back, though. Planning follow-up, whether prescribed fire where it is allowed, spot treatment of seedlings or a light mulching pass every few years, costs far less than letting the stand close in again.
A short checklist before you book
Walk the land and estimate tree density and typical trunk size. Note rocky or sloped areas that will slow the work. Decide whether the cleared ground should be left in mulch or piled and burned, and check burn rules. Ask about per-acre versus daily pricing for large tracts. Plan a follow-up strategy for seedlings before the first pass. Confirm property boundaries before clearing along a fence line.
Costs vary by site conditions. Use the ranges here to sanity-check what you're quoted, then get a direct price for your own property.
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