This method is actually only practical in the mountains of eastern Kentucky when converting abandoned farm fields or strip mined or other open areas to forest. It is sometimes also used to convert low quality hardwood stands to pine stands on suitable sites, but is inferior to a seed tree clearcut for this purpose. By broadcasting tree seeds This method is usually only practical when converting strip mined areas or other areas of bare soil to forest. From seeds Seeds of many species are usually present in the soil of a forest and some of these will lay dormant for years only germinating when conditions become right. Usually opening of the forest canopy by harvest, fire, storm or other means will result in germination of thousands of tree seedlings per acre, many more than are needed to reproduce the stand.
Most hardwoods sprout profusely from roots and stems when the tree is cut or placed under stress.
Many also produce epicormic sprouts from the bark of the stems when the stem is exposed to sunlight. In general sprouts from roots and root collars produce good potential crop trees for the succeeding forest while sprouts from stumps and other stems are undesirable. That is why, in harvesting, trees should be cut as close to the ground as is practicable. Intermediate Cuts Intermediate cuts are practices in a forest done before final harvest, the purpose of which is to improve the stand. They usually are considered to result in a net expense either because no wood products are sold or because the value of wood products sold is less than the cost of the practice.