The aromatic foliage of cedar branches, which can come from true cedars, junipers, or arborvitae, offers a versatile natural resource. Instead of viewing discarded boughs as waste, they can be repurposed for functional and decorative projects. The unique properties of these branches, including their enduring fragrance and natural chemical compounds, make them a valuable material. This article explores practical ways to utilize these cuttings for the home and garden.
Crafting and Decorative Uses
Cedar branches lend themselves well to temporary or preserved displays, bringing a fresh, woodsy scent indoors. Smaller boughs can be gathered to form rustic, seasonal centerpieces or tucked into outdoor planters for winter greenery. Larger, more flexible branches can be shaped into wreaths, garlands, or swags for doorways and mantels.
To extend the vibrant green color of cut cedar, preservation is recommended, as fresh boughs typically remain green for only about two weeks. Air drying involves binding the branches and hanging them upside down in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated space for several weeks. Alternatively, glycerin preservation involves soaking the cut ends in a solution of two parts water to one part glycerin. This allows the plant to absorb the solution, maintaining a pliable texture. Preserved cuttings can be used for several seasons if kept out of direct sunlight, which can cause the color to bleach.
Functional Applications in the Garden and Home
Cedar wood and branches are prized for their durability and natural compounds, offering utility both in the yard and inside the house. When chipped or shredded, the branches create a beneficial mulch that suppresses weed growth by blocking sunlight from the soil. The slow decomposition rate of cedar means the mulch lasts longer than many other organic materials, providing sustained soil coverage.
Cedar mulch also helps the soil retain moisture while regulating temperature, protecting plant roots from extreme heat and cold. The wood contains natural oils, such as thujone, which act as a mild deterrent to certain garden pests like termites and ants. This pest-repelling quality can also be harnessed indoors by using dried, small branches or shavings as a natural alternative to chemical mothballs in closets and storage areas. The small, dried twigs and branch fragments also make excellent, fast-lighting kindling for starting fires in fireplaces or outdoor fire pits.
Harnessing Cedar’s Aroma
The distinctive, pleasant scent of cedar comes from the volatile oils within the wood and needles. Small fragments and shavings, particularly from aromatic Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), can be dried and placed into breathable fabric sachets. These sachets are ideal for tucking into linen drawers, under sinks, or inside gym bags to impart a fresh fragrance while deterring insects like silverfish and clothes moths.
The flavor profile imparted by cedar is also popular in cooking, specifically for grilling and smoking. While direct burning of most coniferous cedar wood is discouraged due to the potential for bitter, resinous smoke, Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is traditionally used in the form of planks. Placing food, commonly fish like salmon, directly on a soaked cedar plank over heat allows the flavor to be infused into the food through aromatic steam and gentle smoke.