Clover/calendula mulch on cherry tree

Hi!

Ive planted a sour cherry tree, is there any reason why using a living mulch of white clover and calendula would be a problem?

I thought the white clover would be a good base, and the calendula add some extra seasonal prettiness

Either that or using red clover on its own, which i really like

Otherwise Im happy just using some woodchip mulch, and my main criteria is to get the tree off to the best start possible..  but I just felt like trying something out

The clover/ calendula planting sounds pretty good. Those will promote a good microbiome that will help the sour cherry tree along.

You might look for some other plants that will pull up other nutrients for planting out around the drip line area so you are improving soil health all around the feeding roots of the tree as well.
If you have it available in your area, plantain, daisy, Echinacea, things like those will benefit the tree root system as well.
Keep in mind water needs of the plants you utilize as tree helpers, you don't want the tree's water needs to suffer any losses.
some mushroom spawn via slurry inoculation would be good as an addition too.

Thanks for all those tips Bryant, that all sounds great