Peter Ellis wrote:Small trees and largish animals just don't make a good combination.
I agree. Pigs are not an option as they will girdle trees, pull out shrubs and cause much havoc. Chickens & turkeys will eat the grass but they'll also rip up any mulch you have put down.
I have a newly planted food forest & I might let the sheep in at the end of the season. Other than that, I have put mulch down to suppress the grass & planted comfrey and nasturtiums to suppress grass too. I occasionally go in with a cordless battery weed wacker or a corn knife to do chop & drop.
Trees need to be quite large to handle cows.