The first thing that comes to mind, for me, is clover. Planting a legume like clover near your saplings will give them added nitrogen to become established and grow well. Clover is good erosion control. So, if you're turning up dirt it will help hold the soil in place. There are various types of clover. Some are more shade tolerant than others. And some are very invasive. Ordinary white clover will sustain our hot hot sun but only if it is well irrigated as in dips and low-lying areas where water accumulates. Unless something else grows in during the hot spells, like bermuda grass, it will come back full force in fall and spring even if hot August beats it down.

In the spring I loosely broadcast clover in some areas during the rainy weeks and it was easy. I also transplanted some patches of clover. They performed well. Time is coming to seed down clover. Probably next week if the cold front comes in and cools it down.

bon

Clover