Chinese Cedar Here is an example of a product being misnamed. One of the reasons we're seeing more Japanese cedar right now is because there is shortages of White cedar. We know our reputation rests on every fence, pergola, stone, and concrete surface that we touch. I have planted si? The pollen cones are often located on the end of these twigs as shown in later pictures. I highly recommend them. When these trees are younger, they typically look more like shrubs. thanks. These trees still line the path to the temple, andare considered some of the most stately and impressive displays of trees in all of Japan. Color/Appearance:Heartwood is typically reddish brown. stable vs. Western Red Cedar. Anyone have guidance for me? 426 Southfork Dr If youre interested in getting wood fences from us dont hesitate toget an estimatehere. A number of trees are given the common name of "cedar" in the US, despite belonging to other genera, such as the Juniper genus. Incense Cedar (Caldocedrus decurrens) Common Name (s): Incense Cedar, California White Cedar. Atlas cedar identification is by the glaucous bluish-green clumps of needles growing on aromatic stems. Sources: Seek out hardwood dealers for lumber, home centers for closet lining. I had a similar question- is this reliable material for fencing compared to western red cedar and are most japanese cedar fences similar or are there different levels of quality within the japanese cedar wood? At A Better Fence Company, we use ONLY Western Red Cedar for our cedar fences, arbors and pergolas. We are proud of our work, and we know you'll be proud of your property as a result. 0000442052 00000 n According to legend, in the early 1600s there was a feudal lord in Japanwho was too poor to donate a stone or bronze lantern at the funeral of the deceased shogun. 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. Its ability to resist decay and weathering is inferior to Western Red Cedar making it less suitable for fences and other outdoor structures. Less Dimensional Stability & Prone to Mold Must be built on a 3 rail fence to limit cupping and warping of pickets. Japanese Cedar When you choose cedar as a fencing material, you expect strength to be a top benefit. Cedars have bluish-green needles, growing in groups along woody branches. This tree is cultivated for its timber, which is why it has been deemed economically productive. This false cedar is an evergreen conifer from the family Cupressaceae. But why might that be? The wood is light weight (24 lbs per cu ft or 385 kg/cu m) and therefore is not exceptionally strong. The foliage can be from bright green to bluish-green color. That can give you some idea of the tree's height. The sapwood is pale yellow. Typically the shittiest pickets are 5/8" thick at Lowes or Home Depot- Western Red Cedar, and they are HORRIBLE. A distinctive feature of these true cedars is how the mature trunks sometimes separate into several different ones. Smooth and supple as butter, straighter, and they never crack or split or warp like western red cedar. For runners, cap and trim western red. These cones will be covered in thin scales. What kind of leaves does a cedar tree have? Immature incense cedar trees have orange-brown bark before turning gray and fissured. Period. I might decide to use a bar top epoxy resin to protect it. So yes, most sugi pickets are excellent for fences in America, but they are in fact Chinese cedar pickets, is this particular cedar a good grade for fencing long term AND IS IT VERY DURABLE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS COMPARE TO WESTERN RED CEDAR, (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private. 0000003320 00000 n Which hand planes should a power-tool woodworker buy first? All Rights Reserved. Japanese cedar became popular in 2020 when WRC became difficult to acquire. If you have dogs or children, theres no way theyll be able to sneak through the fence. Some fence companies will charge you a higher price for #1 Grade Western Red Cedar, but will install #2 Grade Western Red Cedar instead, or worse, a type of wood that is not Western Red Cedar, in order to make a higher profit while hoping that you wont be able to tell the difference. Phone: (972) 245-0640, Now that youre thinking of the main types of outdoor structures. Their evergreen, bright foliage, and ornamental shape make these Thujas popular as specimen landscape trees or as a natural, living screen. 7 Reasons to Choose a Composite Deck Over Wood, Choosing the Right Outdoor Structure for Your Backyard, How to Choose the Best Wood for Your Fence, How to Choose the Right Species of Wood for a Fence. Let Mother Nature be your co-designer as you build dazzling projects with wavy edges, bristly burrs, bark inclusions, and other flaws that give wood a look of unrefined beauty. Maybe you are going for a more rustic appearance, but in general, soft woods like this for tabletops isnt preferred. Japanese is more prone to warping and twisting. $4 to $6 per board foot (clear 4/4 S2S stock). The Atlas cedar tree is a type of true cedar tree that looks similar to varieties of Lebanon cedars. Lebanon cedar is a cold hardy true cedar tree which can grow very tall. 0000080086 00000 n With only basic woodworking skills, a tablesaw, and a few simple tools, you can make custom cabinets for your home or shop. Ironwood Tree: Facts, Leaves, Flowers, Bark (Pictures) - Identification and Care, Types of Redbud Trees: Eastern, Western, Chinese, and More (Pictures), Dwarf Japanese Maples (Including Weeping): Types, Leaves (With Pictures) Identification, Wisteria Trees (Including Blue Chinese Wisteria Tree) - Pictures and Care, Types of Cedar Trees with Identification Guide (Pictures, and Name) Including False Cedar Trees, Types of Spruce Trees and Shrubs With Identification Guide, Types of Fir Trees with Identification Guide and Pictures, Types of Pine Trees with Identification Guide and Pictures. Identification of the western red cedar is by scale-like green leaves that form flat sprays. Donating wood samples and pictures of wood itemsIf youve got a new or unusual wood species that isnt on the site, please consider sharing it with the rest of us! It has needle like leaves, which are approximately 0.5-1 cm long, and globular seed cones that are 1-2 cm in diameter and contain about 20-40 scales. Most of its thin white sapwood (which has little decay resistance) gets milled away during lumber processing. You can tell if you are looking at a yellow cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis), red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), or western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and not at a pine tree because these species dont have needles like pine or spruce trees. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The leaves are spirally arranged and curl inward towards the twing. This is not big box lumber. Western Red Cedar contains natural tannin oils that protect it from weathering, rotting, decay, and termite damage. Knots prove prevalent in lower grades, though "clear" grades are available. Comments: Sometimes called Japanese Cedar, the wood is in the Cupressaceae family, which includes many cedar-like species. Also known as Alaska cedar, this tree (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) grows in the Pacific Northwest, from Alaska through British Columbia and into Oregon. Lumber from these cedars is highly resistant to rot and, therefore, has many uses in the timber industry. Many people also consider the timber from Alaskan yellow cedars as some of the finest available. These faux cedars grow up to 130 ft. (40 m). Michael Simpson, PhD. Western Red Cedar continues to prove itself to be the ideal choice for fences and other outdoor structures. Japanese cedar (or Japanese sugi) is actually a species of Cryptomeria, while western red cedar is a Thuja, both completely different genera. It serves as the national tree of Japan and is often planted around shrines and temples. 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. 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. Lewisville, Texas 75057 Like most cedars, the wood is soft, light, aromatic, and resistant to decay. The Japanese Red Cedar is susceptible to Phytophthora root disease, Armillaria root rot, and Juniper blight. For more tips, including how to identify Atlantic white cedar trees, read on! Q.: How long do cedar fence panels last? Cedar is dimensionally very stable in service. Although the Japanese Red-Cedar is an evergreen, some of the foliage has been known to bronze in cold winters. While the tree is native to the Pacific Northwest, people have taken it to other temperate climates, so you'll find it places like New Zealand, Australia, and Western Europe. Q.: 0000097716 00000 n Japanese Cedar- A newer product on the market in the US that shows promise as being a quality, lower cost alternative to Western Red Cedar. Lean towards red cedar, the Japanese cedar is not a stable and can be a pain in the ass. The Japanese Cedar was introduced in 2021 as a pandemic alternative to be able to get fences installed right away. For more tips, including how to identify Atlantic white cedar trees, read on! Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association estimates that three trees are planted for every one that is harvested, ensuring the long-term sustainability for this remarkable natural resource. Enjoy! He has worked in British, North American, and South American ecosystems, and with First Nations communities, non-profits, government, academia, and industry. Overview. There are many species of conifers that have the common name cedar but are not true cedars. Wood is graded for clearness and amount of defects after it is manufactured. Fill out the form provided below and we will contact you, or call us now, 2019 A Better Fence Company Aubrey, TX 76227 (940)220-9099 . Boatbuilders use it for decks, railings, and interior paneling. Mike also specializes in science communication and providing education and technical support for ecology projects. Lebanon cedars bark is gray-brown and smooth before becoming rough as it matures. With Japanese Cedar, youll have sticker marks from where the wood was dried before it was shipped here from Japan. Typically western red is the better quality material to use. Distribution: Endemic to Japan; commonly grown on plantations within Asia, Tree Size:100-165 ft (30-50 m) tall, 6-10 ft (2-3 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight:23 lbs/ft3 (360 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .33, .36, Modulus of Rupture:5,280 lbf/in2 (36.4 MPa), Elastic Modulus:1,109,000 lbf/in2 (7.65 GPa), Crushing Strength:4,060 lbf/in2 (28.0 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 2.1%, Tangential: 6.8%, Volumetric: 10.5%, T/R Ratio: 3.2. 0000003293 00000 n Research source 0000001156 00000 n Northern white cedar resists decay and insect infestation like its western red cousin, making it similarly suitable for outdoor projects, such as shingles, posts, and decking. Studies have found some latitudinal variation in the sugi's radial growth. Cyprian Cedar is one of the rarest cedars and it has short needles. The Cyprian cedar is one of the rarest types of cedars. 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. The timber is fragrant, weather and insect resistant, soft, strong, and has a very low density, which makes it useful for furniture making and home construction. These elegant, ornamental trees are excellent as specimen trees in large garden landscapes. Being lightweight, the wood becomes easy to handle and operate. There are many benefits of having a fence for your yard. There are differences between the two cedars. They keep their shape well with little maintenance and pruning. If you dig down a little bit into the bark, you'll get the "cedar" wood smell. Know How to Spot the Difference! There are also red cedar trees, which you can find outside of the Mediterranean. Smaller craft lumber is sometimes imported and made available. Others rely on it for lining closets or cigar humidors. There are differences between the two cedars. You can distinguish between true cedars and false cedars by looking at their evergreen needle leaves. % of people told us that this article helped them. The timber is fragrant, weather and insect resistant, soft, strong, and has a very low density, which makes it useful for furniture making and home construction. Lets look at the identifying features of the four cedar species. The leaves are often used to make incense. Spruce is typically a five to eight-year entry-level fence. 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. The Japanese Red-Cedar is an irregular evergreen conifer with tiered horizontal branching. With a solid or semi-solid stain, you typically will get a five-year warranty. I understand you're about to spend a fortune, but as I tell my customers, material matters. 0000003443 00000 n Mahalo, Opi and Satu. Its an acre yard. Japanese cedar fencing comes in two options: Flat Top and Dog Ear. The bark is a red-brown color and peels in vertical strips. The incense cedar tree can be identified by its foliage that stays as flattened vertical sprays. It is a handsome tree and only grows prettier with age, with the most striking feature being its pyramidal shape with dense branches, spreading in concentric circles. Quick facts Cedar-apple rust and related rust fungi need plants from two plant families to complete their life cycle; Cupressaceae family (eastern red cedar and other junipers) and Rosaceae (apple, hawthorn, serviceberry). There will be fewer blemishes and fewer variations in color with #1 grade cedar. Surprised nobody mentioned the cost. Price: $3.50 per board foot (4/4, S2S stock). 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. Allergies/Toxicity:Sugi sawdust has been reported to cause unspecified allergic reactions. Deodar heartwood is a yellow brown. Whether or not the extra strength is necessary for your project is up to you, but clearly redwood is more durable and stable than cedar in general. Go with the red cedar! The wood is awfully soft, so youd definitely be faced with a lot of dents and dings. Timber from Spanish cedar trees is high-quality and resistant to insects and decay. It can also be used to make weight-bearing furniture and load-bearing packing boxes too. Cedar trees are large evergreen conifers that have needle-like leaves that are arranged spirally on scented woody branches. This tree (Juniperus virginiana) also belongs to the cypress family. Western red, assuming your climate is temperate or damp, and not white hot dry desert. I would still also avoid oil-based finishes as they might contribute to darkening over time. One of the most common arborvitaes is the northern white cedar, which is a member of the cypress family. However, these types of wood need to be treated in various ways to repel water and insects. Many people know that cedar is a type of wood that is known for being ideal for use in building outdoor structures because of its resilience and ability to withstand harsh weather. It works well. Japanese cedar is sustainable species grown in responsibly managed forests in Japan. {"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":"