Case Study: Establishment of Ground cover species in Apple Orchard

We wanted to better understand if low-growing, perennial plants can be established as a ground cover in pipfruit orchards, as an alternative to a traditional ‘weed spray strip’. The weed strip area often has low light, poor soil structure, and with long-term herbicide use can result in low organic matter levels, poor soil biology and unfavourable soil organisms. This trial looked at the establishment and impact of seven under-row ‘cover crops’ over a 9-month period.