Mechanical Site Preparation
Source: PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), p. 7
What it is
Mechanical site preparation uses machinery to create enough good planting spots (micro-sites) on a site. It exposes mineral soil, redistributes brush and controls vegetation, reducing slash, duff or grass. The goal is one or both of:
- letting planted seedlings be established at the prescribed stocking and survive, or
- changing the site so natural regeneration can establish and survive.
On fields, one mechanical method described in the manual is contour ploughing: a single-furrow plough turns over sod across the slope. The overturned sod must make good contact with the ground so planted seedlings don’t dry out.
Eligibility
- An appropriate pre-harvest covertype (see Planting Standards).
- In its current state, the site either lacks enough micro-sites to reach the prescribed stocking, or seedlings planted there would be stressed enough to die at unacceptable rates.
Standards and assessment
| Measure | Standard |
|---|---|
| Number of micro-sites | Enough to plant at least 90% of the prescribed density |
| Micro-site size | Normally at least 0.10 m², any shape |
| Clearance | Room for a seedling and/or seed with at least 15 cm to the nearest undisturbed ground cover |
| Surface | Bare mineral soil, unless the prescription says otherwise |
Based on the PEI Ecosystem-Based Forest Management Standards Manual (October 2025), p. 7. Where this guide and the manual differ, the manual governs.