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This report examined the third year growth and survival of the aspen trees. Because of evidence of <br />saline conditions of the irrigation water during 2005-2006, clean potable water from the City of <br />• Hayden was used to irrigate the trees in 2007. The results are summarized as follows: <br />• Best growth and survival was with low or no irrigation, but salinity of irrigation water in the first <br />two years of the experiment reduced growth of trees receiving high and medium amounts of <br />irrigation. <br />• Transplanted trees from local sources grew best once established. <br />• Best growth and survival occurred on fresh live-handled topsoil compared to stockpiled topsoil. <br />• The best growth of aspen was with trees that were hand-hoed to remove all competing <br />vegetation. <br />• Similar to top growth, root growth on the live-handled topsoil was greater in plots where <br />competing vegetation was removed compared to plots where competing vegetation was left <br />intact. <br />Best conditions for reproduction of aspen on reclaimed surface mined coal lands was by using <br />transplanted saplings from local sources on freshly placed topsoil removed from aspen stands. <br />The Use of Landscape Fabric and Supplemental Irrigation to Enhance Survival and Growth of Woody Perennials <br />Planted on Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands <br />This study was initiated in the fall of 2007 to determine if landscape fabric could be used successfully <br />to control competing vegetation and allow reproduction of aspen and serviceberry woody perennials <br />on reclaimed surface coal mine lands. The research was to find ways to improve the survival and <br />quality of aspen and serviceberry planted on reclaimed mined lands. <br />• It was shown that control of competing vegetation is important in survival and growth of aspen. The <br />landscape fabric was particularly important in the sites with the most competing vegetation. The first <br />year results of this experiment confirm that the use of landscape fabric will increase growth and <br />survival of aspen. <br />The irrigation and landscape fabric treatments had no significant effect on serviceberry, likely a result <br />of the small initial size of the serviceberry plants. It is expected that a response is more likely to <br />appear in the second and third years after treatment. <br />• <br />TR-62 22-3-8 Revised 5/09