Mistik Management Ltd. has been using a Meri Crusher mounted on a small loader since 1998 to prepare sites for planting. The Meri Crusher mulches the organic material and mixes the mulched material with mineral soil to create a mixed microsite to favour planted white spruce and provide vegetation control from Calamagrostis canadensis (marsh reed grass) and aspen. However, harvesting in aspen and mixedwood forests creates moderate to high slash loading. When the Meri Crusher is used for site preparation, these slash loadings have led to low machine productivity.