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<br />Introduction <br />Successful re-establishment of woody vegetation on surface-mined lands in the <br />United States is problematic. Establishment of aspen and serviceberry has been <br />particularly difficult because these species regenerate from vegetative sprouts from parent <br />roots in the soil which are removed in the mining process. Even when plants are <br />established from residual parent roots, growth is commonly limited by low soil moisture <br />conditions, particularly in the Western US. In addition, woody perennials are heavily <br />browsed by deer and elk. Previous attempts to plant aspen seedlings on reclaimed mines <br />have failed because transplanted root sprouts or seedlings do not have an extensive root <br />system necessary to access water and nutrients for rapid growth. Serviceberry <br />regeneration on reclaimed land also has been shown to be difficult. Competition with <br />fast-growing herbaceous vegetation is an important factor in survival of planted woody <br />perennials throughout the US. Landscape fabric has been used in plantings of woody <br />perennials to limit surrounding vegetation that competes for moisture and nutrients. <br />• Machine planting of woody perennials using tractor-drawn equipment for planting and <br />laying of landscape fabric on reclaimed surface mine lands can be a cost-effective <br />method for large scale re-vegetation of reclaimed surface coal mine lands. These systems <br />are commonly used for windbreak planting and are available from state forest nurseries <br />or agricultural extension offices. We simulated the use of commercial machine-planting <br />techniques with landscape fabric to establish aspen and serviceberry on reclaimed mine <br />soils in Colorado. Our preliminary results from the first year of study suggest that this <br />method greatly enhances survival and growth of the woody perennial aspen. <br />Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and western serviceberry (Amelanchier <br />alnifolia) are important native woody plants occurring throughout the western and <br />northern United States. Of the few broad-leaved hardwood trees in many western forests, <br />aspen is a valuable ecological component of many landscapes, occurring in pure forests <br />as well as growing in association with many coniferous and other hardwood species. <br />Aspen stands provide desirable scenic value, and the diversity of plants growing under <br />aspen supply critical wildlife habitat and food, valuable browsing resources, protect soils <br />