I plant clover seeds around all my trees.  Stopped buying much years ago.  It works well for me.  I also plant comfrey around my plants and trees.

We are, as you know, looking for acreage.  There is one bank owned property that is a complete mess we are considering.  Price has dropped 5 times, it's THAT much of a mess!  This is an interesting concept.  Cheap for sure.  Toss a few seeds out there and let them grow.  I was loving the idea of straw until this post.  8.5 acres on a big slope at the edge of the world is not an easy challenge...

I am in Southern California, and I thought I'd toss in a few ideas from a landscaper I found on Garden Web:  Love the little water faux lawn.  I actually love most of it, and I hate succulents, but somehow he makes them look good!

Going to look for a source of comfrey and clover seeds.

Suzi

Grasa...Most compatible cover crops should work. I plan on using Clover, Vetch and Mints for my fig orchard.

cookie_dr... I use the same combination in my small fruit tree orchard (apples, peaches, pears, plums). Comfrey between the trees in the row, clover and annual rye between the rows.

Suzi...attached links are the website where I purchased Comfrey and cover crop seeds. also attached is a Youtube link to Masanobu Fukuoka and his "One Straw Revolution", "Permaculture gardening" with cover crops.

http://www.coescomfrey.com/Coes_Comfrey___How_to_Use.html
http://www.groworganic.com/seeds/cover-crop.html

Pete!  Don't even think mint!  It will take over your life!  And thanks for the link!  Mint is extremely invasive!  But if that's what you want, it makes good tea..

Suzi

Suzi,

You're welcome. I currently have two large areas with several varieties of mint. I use a scythe and sickle to "cut and drop" the plants and harvest all the peppermint and spearmint I want for insect repellent and tea. The cold winters kill the plants, so they have not spread beyond their boundaries.

Well, in zone 13, winter is missing, and mint will take over.  I get you!  It's a zone thing!

Suzi

Suzi,

I'm sure there are native plants that may be used for ground cover in most locations and zones. These native plants have evolved for best growth in their native environment. With a little research these plants can be identified and cultivated as beneficial companion plants or ground cover, this includes annual and perennial grasses. Google "Forest Gardening" as an example. From my fig experiments earlier this year, mint plants are a deterrent to many insect pests. Growing mints and sprinkling used coffee grinds around the potted fig trees eliminated all visible signs of ants and many flying insects that were very active before the treatment.

Hey Suzi,
I got a bunch of comfrey from a p-patch.  they grow like weed. I noticed that all the old growth apples and pears are lined with comfrey, so I asked for and the generous gardener gave a bunch. I have a few plants to share.  the flowers are beautiful, like borage, (same family I guess) they attract good insects, also the leaves are rich in everything and compost very quickly... if wasn't for my chickens also liking them..they would be bigger, so I planted a few outside my fence, away from my roaming free chickens...  their roots spread easily.  I cannot find red clover seeds, I planted white, not sure it is as good, their leaves are not as grey and white don't grow as tall. 

let me know, Suzi, I can go there and get more to send you...

I love using Permaculture principles in the garden. I solved my only bug problem this season by introducing ladybugs. I also planted a lot of different plants close together to encourage the good bugs and to dissuade the bad ones.  Basically, you create a food forest, as Pete said.

Purslane, most often thought of as a weed, is a great edible groundcover and has a lot of omega-3. It will reseed over and over. I like various low-growing herbs and flowers as underplantings, too. I have also used fresh ground coffee beans to get rid of ants. They love the grounds and will take them to the nest, where they eat them and collapse the colony.

I don't know what Purslane is...(Oh.. I know it by  borduega - or burduega) I grew up eating them as snacks! some are tangy and spicy others more blend.. I found some in my pots, I think a bird brought it to me... I let it be there..so I guess I should nurture it to multiply...thanks for that tip.

Pete, this Coe website is pretty neat! thanks for posting it.