Effects of nurse shrubs and biochar on planted conifer seedling survival and growth in a high-severity burn patch in New Mexico, USA

•Planting seedlings under shrubs increased survival by 46 % after 3 years, with some marginal evidence that shrubs inhibited seedling diameter growth.•The addition of biochar increased seedling survival by 11% but had no effect on seedling growth.•Our study suggests that planted seedling survival in post-wildfire areas can be increased by utilizing existing vegetation and soil amended with biochar.