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Fruit & Orchards

Cover crop for apples

Richard Roberts

10 years ago

I live in NW Arkansas and just planted 6 dwarf apple trees in a fescue/bermuda grass lawn. I would like to displace the grass under the trees with a beneficial cover crop. Any suggestions on what to introduce and how to establish it in what is now a sod lawn?

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Comments (3)

speedster1
10 years ago
I don't see any reason to mess with cover crops. I'd just remove a 36" ring of turf around the tree and install 2-4 inches of good quality mulch. It will help control moisture loss
shane11
10 years ago
What about white clover? The only downside I see to using mulch as suggested previously is that mulch will continually need to be replaced. This may be a problem for some. I would guess a living mulch such as clover would take care of itself.
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User
10 years ago
I am putting in micro clover as a living mulch this spring in my small apple orchard. I think there is a good thread on this subject including how to plant etc. on the Soils, Compost, and Mulches board.

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