Weeds Good weed control is a key to successful fruit and nut gardening. Weeds and grasses can stunt and even kill young trees and berries, and the competition for water and nutrients will seriously limit production of bearing fruit and nut trees. Hand-hoeing is still the best answer to weed control in the home orchard. Mechanical tillage equipment is satisfactory, but till only up to 2 inches deep to avoid serious damage to shallow feeder roots. Mulching provides multiple benefits, including weed control, reduced water loss, and cooler soil temperatures.
Thick mulches keep light away from seedlings and provide a mechanical barrier to emergence.
Organic mulches gradually deteriorate, and fertilizer is used in this decomposition. If you are applying fertilizer on top of a thick organic mulch, apply extra fertilizer to compensate for this loss. It may be aesthetically desirable to have a grass cover around fruit and nut trees that are a part of the landscape. Mature trees compete with grass much better than young trees do, so keep a weed-free circle around the tree for the first 3 to 4 years. Do not use herbicides in your home orchard unless you fully understand all aspects of safe handling and application.