Mowing height and frequency under trees can select for low growing, non-competitive weeds. The principle involves eliminating unwanted vegetation and fostering growing conditions or enhancing seed production to ensure survival of the preferred weedy vegetation. Preliminary evidence from New Zealand suggests that the seed bank for preferred weeds can dominate the tree row within 4 years. Herbicides offer an alternative to select for preferred weeds or cover crops by exploiting t he weaknesses of the herbicide or searching for what they fail to control. This information can be integrated into your planning process and modified over time to achieve your desired results.
Alleyway management involves mowing or flailing a permanent sod.
Grasses that tolerate tractor traffic and survive within the crop site include creeping red and tall fescue, orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and some other f ine fescues. Creeping fescues offer the advantage of filling in spaces or repairing small areas of turf torn by tractor tires. Fine and creeping fescue vegetation, however, requires extra horsepower and sharp blades while mowing because the foliage is e specially fiberous. Perennial ryegrass has been established alone or in mixtures with creeping red fescues. Because ryegrass requires nitrogen for long-term survival, it usually gives way to more persistant species such as fescues or orchardgrass.