Week 7 · Design

The floor under the canopy

Edible Landscapes

Fruit trees in high summer cast deep shade and compete for moisture at the drip line. A planned understorey — comfrey, yarrow, clover, herbs — cools soil, feeds pollinators, and supplies chop-and-drop mulch without bare dirt that radiates heat back into roots.

Match plants to water reality: dryland orchards in Marlborough need drought-tolerant covers; humid Waikato sites need airflow to reduce fungal pressure. Never mound mulch against trunks.

Understorey management

  1. Plant in rings, not against trunks

    Keep 30cm clear at collar; roots extend outward where you can mulch and plant.

  2. Chop and drop comfrey monthly

    Mineral-rich leaves become mulch — wear gloves; some people find comfrey irritates skin.

  3. Mow or scythe paths between trees

    Maintain access for harvest and irrigation checks.

  4. Watch for pest harbourage

    Overgrown understorey can hide slugs — balance cover with occasional open mulch zones.

Diversity beats monoculture ground cover — mix deep and shallow roots.

Poultry under mature trees can control insects and fertilise lightly — only where fencing and stock rotation prevent compaction and bark damage. Not suitable for every household.