Vegetation management systems in almond orchards

Orchard floor management systems used in California almonds vary from planting cover crops between the tree rows to management of the existing ground cover or weeds in the orchard to removal of the vegetation on the soil surface. Cover crops, sometimes called living mulches, have been used in orchards for many years. Many orchardists have successfully converted their weed management practices from repeated disking to maintenance of the vegetation through mowing.