A study was conducted to assess favourable microsites for establishment of Picea glauca (Moench) Voss from seed beneath 40-71 year old Populus tremuloides (Michx) dominated stands in the boreal mixedwood forests of Alberta, Canada. First year establishment, soil strength, root-zone temperature, understory vegetation shading, leaf litter accumulation, and wire (simulating overwintering seedlings) bending were measured on large patches of exposed mineral soil (exposed), small patches of exposed mineral soil (screef), rotting logs (log), mineral soil mounds (mound) and the untreated forest floor (normal).

The mound, exposed and log appeared to be the most favourable seedbeds. Low vegetation cover and high June root-zone temperatures appeared to favour establishment on the exposed seedbed, while moderate vegetation shading, high June root-zone temperatures, and low moist soil strength were related to high establishment on the log and mound seedbeds. Differences in leaf litter accumulation between seedbeds were unrelated to differences in overwinter survival.