There are only four recognised species of true cedar, all in the genus Cedrus. The aromatic false cedar tree grows to between 130 and 195 ft. (40 60 m) tall. The barrel cones grow up to 5 (13 cm) long, and the bark of Deodar cedar is gray and scaly. Eastern Red Cedar leaves are similar to Western Red Cedar in that they are scale-like and form "fingers." However, they go all around the stem, rather than just forming opposite pairs. Leaves can be yellow-green or dark green. Its needle-like leaves grow in small, dense clusters on short shoots. The female cones are brown, globular, and solitary. Cedars have bluish-green needles, growing in groups along woody branches. It is a light weight wood which causes less stress on the posts and framework of the fence, and it is naturally more water repellent than other types of wood. Less Dimensional Stability & Prone to Mold Must be built on a 3 rail fence to limit cupping and warping of pickets. Unfortunately, Japanese cedar fencing falls short in this regard. The Japanese cedar or cryptomeria, meaning hidden parts, is a coniferous tree widespread within Japan. However, with that said there are different grades of cedar and there are low grades of Western red cedar which will affect primarily the aesthetics. Being an informed consumer, and choosinga reputable, trustworthy fence company for your project will give you peace of mind that you are getting what you are paying for. Lewisville, Texas 75057 woodmagazine.com/treebenchplan $. Scientific Name: Calocedrus decurrens (syn. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. The large woody, barrel-shaped cones grow up to 5 (13 cm) long and 2.4 (6 cm) wide. A Better Fence Company specializes in new wood fences, wrought iron metal fences, fence replacement, ranch style fences, driveway gates, handrails, balcony railings, chain link fences, patio covers, arbors & pergolas. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Temperature is also shown to correlate with growth onset but not duration, that is, warmer temperatures help the tree to start growing earlier, but they do not appear to affect how long the tree will continue growing. The needle like leaves are approximately 0.5-1 cm long while the globular seed cones are 1-2 cm in diameter and contain about 20-40 scales. Clumps of small needles arranged spirally on short and woody stems identify the Cyprian cedar. We are proud of our work, and we know you'll be proud of your property as a result. The common names of these cypress trees are confusing as they share them with species of junipers. Its common and botanical name literally means wood of the gods. Deodar cedars are fast-growing, large evergreen conifer trees that have a distinctly conical shape. We shadowed two experienced makers and installers of custom cabinetry to bring you simple tips and tricks that will keep your built-in projects (and your sanity) on the bubble.. Typically the shittiest pickets are 5/8" thick at Lowes or Home Depot- Western Red Cedar, and they are HORRIBLE. The wood splits easily--hence, it is commonly used for split singles and shakes. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Even so the wood remains lightweight, giving it an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. Yes, so expensive. In confined spaces, the resins in eastern red cedar can cause finishing problems, as they inhibit proper hardening of oil finishes. It works easily with hand and power tools, but use a respirator and gloves if you experience rash and respiratory problems. How do different wood species differ when being used for fences? Construction or premium grade wood is the best kind of wood you can buy, though it is also some of the most expensive. Michael Simpson, PhD. Price: $1.75 per board foot (4/4 S2S stock). However, the pickets are thinner and less sturdy than Western Red Cedar, and have a tendency to split or break during installation. Western red cedar is a very tall conifer tree (left) but dwarf cultivars are available too such as Thuja plicata Green Giant (left). Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 0000237930 00000 n You can distinguish between true cedars and false cedars by looking at their evergreen needle leaves. These faux cedars grow up to 130 ft. (40 m). Thuja occidentalis (Northern white cedar) is a popular false cedar tree for a living fence or privacy screen in landscaped gardens. This tree (Juniperus virginiana) also belongs to the cypress family. Know How to Spot the Difference! At All-State Fence & Supply, we useONLY Western Red Cedar for our cedar fences, arbors and pergolas. Western red you can slam a 16 penny nail in and no splits. woodmagazine.com/woodprofiles, Aromatic Cedar: Myth or Mothbuster, woodmagazine.com/aromatic, Cedrus libani, the cedar of the Bible: woodmagazine.com/biblicalcedar, Build a mahogany and aromatic cedar blanket chest. If you have a faade siding or interior wall siding project, and you love the beautiful and naturally durable, go with Western Red Cedar. 0000004427 00000 n The smaller of the two trees was cut down yesterday, and I noticed that it has fairly dark heartwood (much darker than in wester red cedar), while the sapwood is very light. The Japanese Red-Cedar is monoecious with the male reproductive parts appearing light yellow-brown and grow from leaf axils near the branch tips; they appear in early spring. As a guide, 60 feet (18m) is about the length of a bowling lane. The tree is fast-growing for the first 50 years before slowing down. We know our reputation rests on every fence, pergola, stone, and concrete surface that we touch. per cubic foot, this density means it stands up to wear and tear even better than Western Red Cedar. These faux cedars dont grow taller than 50 ft. (15 m). For runners, cap and trim western red. He has over 20 years of experience in ecology research and professional practice in Britain and North America, with an emphasis on plants and biological diversity. #2 grade cedar will have many small knots and also large knots and blemishes. The reason I ask is that my wife is not excited with the somewhat orange like hue, although she is delighted with the grains and contrasts. When choosing the best wood to install your new fence with, Western Red Cedar seems to come out on top. They dont grow to more than 40 ft. (12 m) tall in garden landscapes and are ideal for full sun and hot, arid conditions. The barrel-shaped cones have smooth scales and are shorter than other cedarsyellow before maturing to dark brown. The four types of cedar trees are Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) with dark green foliage, Cyprian cedar (Cedrus brevifolia) with bluish-green needle-leaves, Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) with bright green needles and moderately large cones, and cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) with its glaucous, bluish-green foliage. Cedars grow at high altitudes and thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. When compared to standard wood, you can easily tell the difference with premium wood. References. Sources: Luthier's supply companies, specialty hardwood dealers. hb`````9 @16@~O20d(zCeDJw4 $q5"J Chinese Cedar Here is an example of a product being misnamed. Sugi is a commercially important softwood species within Japan, and is commercially grown for many construction purposes. Eastern red cedar heartwood bears pinkish-red tones with an occasional purplish tinge and deep reddish-brown streaks. Chinese "cedar" is actually fir! The Eastern Red Cedar is much shorter overall than the Western Red Cedar, typically being between 16 to 66 feet tall (5 to 20 m) with a trunk between 12 to 39 inches (30 to 100 cm) in diameter. Their evergreen, bright foliage, and ornamental shape make these Thujas popular as specimen landscape trees or as a natural, living screen. Some ornamental cultivars include the Golden Atlas Cedar Aurea with golden foliage, Blue Atlas Cedar Glauca with its bluish green needles, the Glauca Pendula, with weeping branches, and Argentea Fastigiataan upright columnar tree with a pencil shape. The bark is a red-brown color and peels in vertical strips. Clear cedar, which is a higher grade than #1, comes from the heart (center) of the tree and has no knots and few blemishes. And hello- a screw will split the board MORE than a nail. Which hand planes should a power-tool woodworker buy first? Support me directly through PatreonIf youve been helped by the Wood Database, consider saying thanks and helping to support the project. The wood machines beautifully, glues and stains well, and develops a satiny sheen. Most people refer to this wood as "aromatic cedar" because of its pungent natural oils, and use it to line closets and hope chests to ward off insects. Another option on the market is Japanese Cedar if youre looking for a price comparison. The sole hardwood and only import of this group, Spanish cedar (Cedrela oderata) grows natively in Central and South America, and has been planted in Florida. 0000189028 00000 n But why might that be? Email:sales@allstate-fence.com, 10200 Highway 191 Your article was. 71 0 obj <>stream 29 43 These facts make the lumber valuable in the construction industry, where resistance to termites and rot is crucial. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Check out our Tips for Choosing a Reputable Fence Company, Inform Yourself! Just beware of the knotty areas. Some Lebanon cedars can live for over 1,000 years. I have quotes from 2 different companies for a board on board fence with cap and trim. Who Wins? Also called Nootka cedar or Nootka cypress, these beautiful false cedars are excellent as tall privacy hedges or windbreaks. However, the cedar lumber isnt ideal for furniture making. Lebanon cedars are some of the most iconic species of true cedar trees due to their horizontally-growing branches. If you dig down a little bit into the bark, you'll get the "cedar" wood smell. Mike also specializes in science communication and providing education and technical support for ecology projects. You can identify a female tree by these berry-like cones. The trees may grow 200' tall with trunk diameters of 10'. The large tree has a conical crown of spreading branches producing soft, scale-like leaves. To help you estimate the height, think about your own height. It grows throughout the eastern United States, usually to heights of just 20' to 40', though some trees reach 100' or taller. Its natural oils are insect and decay resistant, and left in its natural state it remains beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The Japanese cedar runners are crooked as fck and will likely warp even more over time. You can usually identify a Chinese Cedar Picket by the thickness of the board. For pickets - Japanese is decent. Three great finishes (that aren't polyurethane). The Japanese Cedar was introduced in 2021 as a pandemic alternative to be able to get fences installed right away. There are many species of conifers that have the common name cedar but are not true cedars. Western Red Cedar dries readily with very little shrinkage and has excellent working qualities, machining to a smooth, satiny finish. Q.: Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) reigns supreme for the production of decking, siding, shingles, and outdoor structures because of its natural decay resistance, ability to repel water, and abundance. Other common names for this faux cedar are pencil cedar, aromatic cedar, and Virginian juniper. If youre asking yourself, What wood is best for a fence? theres no doubting that high-quality wood is always on the list. Saturday 8:00 AM 1:00 PM. The wood ranks as hard and dense, with tight rings indicative of its slow growth. A thin band of creamy white sapwood surrounds the wood's light brown heartwood, with knots often present. or lumber quality as mentioned earlier. Cyprian Cedar is one of the rarest cedars and it has short needles. Boatbuilders use it for decks, railings, and interior paneling. Using this type of wood will mean a longer lasting fence with less repairs needed over the course of its life. This medium-sized tree grows to between 33 and 98 ft. (10 30 m) tall. Cones growing on eastern cedars are a light blue color and look like clusters of small berries. Specification Features Usage Videos Customer case Product Specifications Wood Species Japanese cedar Color Natural color Finishing not coated Size 15*140*1830, 15*152*2440, or customized size, etc. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Identify-Cedar-Trees-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-Cedar-Trees-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Identify-Cedar-Trees-Step-1.jpg\/aid10122095-v4-728px-Identify-Cedar-Trees-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"