Regeneration Silviculture of Aspen

Factors affecting the regeneration of aspen are reviewed. In many cases, complete clearcutting will ensure prompt restocking at a satisfactory level without the need for further treatment. However aspen has traditionally been underutilized, and this led to the development of decadent stands. Special treatments may be needed to regenerate them. Moreover, aspen has such a large range that regional adaptations may be necessary for consistent success. Clonal differences have been used to a small extent to improve natural stands through silvicultural manipulations, but the potential of such techniques is low, as opposed to the use of genetic variations to develop more productive hybrids.