Annie McCabe

Hi Everyone, thanks for all the replies. The grass there is regular old turf grass. I'm no expert on turf grasses, but it's stoloniferous.

You're right; the orchard is doing fine as it is. The grass can't be causing too much damage. My concern is water use, especially as we are two years into severe drought. Our soil is almost totally dry about 5' down, and the little rain we do get is shared by all that grass. But perhaps I should just stick with pruning for now.

I've moved back onto my family's farm, and there is an old orchard - about 20 trees, mostly apple. The trees are spaced about 20 feet apart, and grass grows right up to their trunks. What is the best thing to do for them, when I don't have time or energy to really take on the orchard yet? Can I mix clover seed in with the grass? I've mulched around a few of the younger trees with shredded wood and soybean stalks, but my hens tear it right up. The trees are bearing pretty well, but especially after two years of drought, I'd like to help them. Any ideas that are fairly low input, to last a few years until I get other parts of the farm in order?