Cedar Trees are Weeds, but We Love Them Anyway

As a kid, I loved dandelions. They’re pretty, plentiful, and there are a thousand fun ways to play with them. Then someone told me that they were weeds and I was confused. How can they be weeds when they’re so great? Weeds are simply plants that aren’t wanted by the land owner. The owner certainly didn’t plant and cultivate those dandelions.

Today, I feel the same way about cedar trees. Cedar trees, of course, are where we get cedar oil from. Cedar oil is an almost magical substance that has many great qualities in addition to its power to kill and repel insects. It’s great for skin, has a calming influence, and has other impressive qualities. Unfortunately, the cedar tree itself is a weed.

There are three big problems with cedar trees. The cedar trees cause a seasonal allergy called “cedar fever” that affects nearly everybody in the region. They also use a lot of water, which is a problem in a place like Texas that doesn’t always get much rain. The last reason is that a lot of dry cedar trees is a big fire hazard.

CedarCide gets its cedar oil from Texas cedar trees. Cedar oil is made by chopping down the tree, cutting the wood into small pieces, and distilling the oil out of the wood. Of course, this destroys the tree. However, cedar trees are constantly being chopped down by land owners for a variety of reasons and usually these “scrap trees” are simply burned.

Cedar trees are weeds. They’re unwanted plants. We make something great out of them and we’re proud of that.

Sources:
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/09/20/texas-most-hated-tree-drought-wildfires-renew-interest-in-cedar-eradication/
http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-war-on-cedar/
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-cedar-wood-essential-oil.html
http://www.texasmedclinic.com/news/symptoms-remedies-cedar-fever-and-allergies-austin-san-antonio/

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