I was recently reading a not-too-back-issued Pomona, and I recall a little
article about how grass is a poor floor for the orchard, mulch is O.K., but
mixed wildflowers is best.
I also learned somewhere that orchards used to be burned annually to clean
up the autumn leaves and thereby the apple scab.
These 2 ideas pique my interest, as a restoration ecologist, because the
settlers would plant orchards in open spots, and maintain the orchard and
the native ground-cover by burning-- intent was to reduce scab, but result
was preservation of a scrap of prairie plants.
Is anyone out there trying to grow apples plus prairie plants ? Or savanna
plants ? I know of a couple healthy looking apple trees in local preserves
which are burned frequently. These trees look no worse for wear, but lowest
branches are higher than usual. I believe vegetation would need to be
reduced near the trunks, to be sure of zero fire damage there.
Any ideas ? Amateur apples aren't in big demand here, but prairie & savanna
seed is.
Tanis Cuff, southern WI
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