Planting a new swale

Hello friends. It's finally going to happen!!! Next week there is a fellow coming over to cut a new swale on a new piece of land. This first swale will be fairly close to the top of a hillside and I'm looking for planting guidance. I've always read that Swales are mainly tree growing systems. I plan on putting in a few fig trees but mainly edibles and support species. This swale will be at least one hundred foot long and I have lots to plant there this first year. I find very little on growing annuals on Swales. Pitfalls, problems, and successes. I'd love to hear about them.

Since swales are, by design, uncompacted, I would think that the biggest challenge with growing annuals on a swale mound would be to prevent erosion. You would want to be certain that you have something growing throughout the year and have a plan for winter, maybe a cover crop.

Thanks Matt. I think I'm going to go with a mix of perrineals and annuals with about seventh percent perrrineals.