Permie Orchard : What grass do you use between the rows

Hi Stefan! I'm in Bulgaria, so different climate to yours, but I am wondering what grass you grow between the rows and how often you mow? It looks all green and lush!

I am trying to do everything small scale, no electric or gas run equipment, so I would have to scythe, and would like to keep it to a minimum. Do you have a slow growing grass? Do you think Buffalo grass would be ok?

Margie Nieuwkerk wrote:Hi Stefan! I'm in Bulgaria, so different climate to yours, but I am wondering what grass you grow between the rows and how often you mow? It looks all green and lush!

I am trying to do everything small scale, no electric or gas run equipment, so I would have to scythe, and would like to keep it to a minimum. Do you have a slow growing grass? Do you think Buffalo grass would be ok?

Margie I tried to scythe in the beginning. Buccolic, romantic, great exercise. After a few 500 foot rows I realized this is WORK and I had another 25 rows to go!!
Small is beautiful. Grow the grass that grows best in your area. Look at what grows along the sides of the ditches. That's usually a good indicator of what is best suited for your conditions. Use the grass to chop and drop. We now use mow and blow as a faster version of chop and drop. Maybe you should just grow herbs and vegetables in the rows if it is small enough to maximize your yield. That's how you can be profitable from year 1.

Stefan Sobkowiak wrote:
Margie I tried to scythe in the beginning. Buccolic, romantic, great exercise. After a few 500 foot rows I realized this is WORK and I had another 25 rows to go!!
Small is beautiful. Grow the grass that grows best in your area. Look at what grows along the sides of the ditches. That's usually a good indicator of what is best suited for your conditions. Use the grass to chop and drop. We now use mow and blow as a faster version of chop and drop. Maybe you should just grow herbs and vegetables in the rows if it is small enough to maximize your yield. That's how you can be profitable from year 1.

OMG! Well, my place is much smaller, i have about 1/2 acre and a part of it is my orchard. Sounds like a good plan on the chopping and dropping of the grass, and I am also trying to grow something called Herniaria Glabra in hopes that this could work as low growing herb but that can be walked on. perhaps what I'll do is do several rows with different plantings and see what works best. Thank you for all your input!!