If you want to perpetuate a mixture of aspen and conifers, but conifer reproduction is sparse prior to the harvest, clearcuts should be less than 200 feet in width and oriented perpendicular to prevailing winds. Conifer seeds can then blow in from adjoining stands. You can improve the seed bed for conifers by scarifying the site. Since scarification damages aspen roots needed to grow root suckers, scarification should be done in patches to create a mix of aspen and conifers.