Shading from the branch structure of deciduous trees probably has minimal effect on cover crop growth during the winter. Cover crops grown in citrus orchards, however, may receive little or no direct sunlight, especially in orchards with east-west row orientation. Winter orchard operations. Cover crops in orchards can rarely be left undisturbed during the winter. The traffic required for pruning and spraying can seriously diminish the growth capacity of the cover.
Most species can tolerate a moderate amount of traffic, however, especially when they are older.
One operation that can nearly eliminate most cover crops is pushing brush out of the orchard. This practice should be done before planting or seedling emergence. Cover crops could also be planted in alternate rows, with brush stacked on rows with resident vegetation. Alternatively, large wood can be removed and smaller wood can be shredded with equipment now on the market. Cover crops offer an important way to conserve excess soil nitrate during winter and to supply nitrogen when needed by the trees in the spring.