I live in Eastern Nebraska. I really enjoy planting a variety of trees on my place. Pretty much planting my place to a forest. I was looking at planting some white cedars. I see they grow well to the north east of me but I've never seen them growing around here. Anyone have any info on them growing in nebraska?

They are critical here for white tail deer in the winter for browse and a "micro-climate". I spend countless hours planting them, starting them from seedlings in raised beds and fencing them once planted in the woods. The bunnies and even mice will get them when young. In about 100 years they make GORGEOUS lumber that will last forever. They hold a special place in my heart. Red Cedar, not so much.

If you don't fence them, don't bother.

Exactly. The little white pine eating vermin will get them

Not sure how they would do that far west. They are originally a bog species.

I've heard they like boggy conditions. We have clay soils so that could be an issue.

They are very popular in the ornamental trade worldwide so I'm sure they are adaptable. Maybe won't grow to the big tree we have here but I know several growing on clay.

Around here they will grow in places other trees wont grow.not only in wet but in dry too.

they will grow in clay as I've planted about 2000 of them about 30 years ago on a place I owned at the time that was hilly with clay soil and with some sandy areas mixed in. The grew fine in both soils.

Didn't have to fence them as the deer didn't touch them. They'd lay under them but they never chewed a single one.
All depends upon what the have available for food locally.

Around here they like limey spots

That's been my experience as well. I have several large white cedars on my property that are about fifty years old. I also have grown several from softwood cuttings. I have a thick layer of topsoil over heavy clay, they do well.

Deer ignore them.

That's exciting, I'm going to plant a bunch then and see what happens.

like boco said they will grow anywhere here

I find this interesting. Around here, the "browse line" is about 5-6 feet. The deer eat everything they can reach standing on their hind legs in the winter.

same here 160user , anything they can reach

I prefer red cedar and have planted a lot of them this week. Something different. I like the diversity but I'm doing it mostly for screening and wind protection. Good luck with your White Cedar.

Might pay to visit the Morton arboretum in Nebraska City to see what does well in your area.

I don't really see any benefit of the White Cedar over the red cedar. I guess deer might enjoy eating on white cedar more. And white cedar (arborvitae) don't cause cedar apple rust.

It'll be interesting to see how white cedars come through this strange winter

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/winter-damage-evergreen-trees-and-shrubs

My white cedars are set to arrive this week.
I still have to decide whether to spread them out or put them in a ~clump on my 90 acres.

My neighbor haa a bunch that look sick now--winter burn I'm thinking.