We must contribute to the ecology! "Don't rush to pick up the hoes and send them to the "weed paradise". Today we will talk about this orchard management method that is a bit subversive of the three views - raw grass cultivation. Not only do we need to analyze how it improves the soil and attracts beneficial insects, but we also need to teach you how to handle it step by step. Of course, in order not to let you doze off while watching, I will try to tell this as funny as a talk show.

Let’s talk about orchard ecological management first. Have you ever thought that an orchard is actually a small universe? Trees are the protagonists, soils are the stages, insects are the supporting roles, and what about weeds? They are not supporting roles to make trouble, but heroes who can help you sing the show. Traditional fruit farmers get big heads when they see weeds, and think that these green things are competing for nutrition, water and sun from fruit trees, and they want to uproot them and make a "barb orchard". Unfortunately, the result of bareness is often that the soil is exposed like a newly shaved new recruit. When the wind blows the soil, it runs away, and when the water flushes, nothing goes away. The fruit trees still have to hold on there, and live a worse life than 996.

When it comes to growing grass, it is to do the opposite. Its core idea is: weeds are not enemies, but teammates! You let them grow freely in the orchard, it’s like hiring a group of free "gardeners". These weeds are not just standing there as decorations, they have more things to do. For example, to improve the soil, the roots of weeds are planted into the soil, like countless small hands holding the soil tightly to prevent soil erosion. After they die, the residual bodies rot into the soil, which is equivalent to adding an organic fat meal to the soil. The soil structure becomes soft and breathable, and the fruit trees feel sweeter when they drink water. For example, those flowering weeds can also attract bees and ladybugs and other beneficial insects, which is simply an orchard version of the "job fair". Once the beneficial insects come, the pests have to run away with their tails, so that you can spray medicine all over the garden like a chemist.

Speaking of this, you may ask, "Isn't this an excuse for lazy fruit farmers? Can we tell so many tricks without removing weeds?" Haha, don't worry, let's disassemble it slowly. Raw grass cultivation does not allow you to completely let go, and wait for the fruit tree to grow up by itself like a hand-off manager. It is a technical job, you need to be a little brainy and patient, otherwise the weeds will turn the orchard into a "weed paradise", and you won't even find a fruit tree at that time.

So how to improve the soil through grass cultivation? We have to start with the "underground life" of weeds. The root system of weeds is not as picky as fruit trees. They can loosen the hard soil by just drilling into the soil. Especially those guys with deep root systems, such as alfalfa and dandelions, whose roots can be several meters underground and turn the deep nutrients up for fruit trees. They are simply natural "excavators". Moreover, the roots of weeds secrete some acidic substances, which can decompose the deadly locked minerals in the soil, which is equivalent to opening a nutritious buffet for the fruit trees. What’s even more funny is that after the weeds die, their bodies can still feed microorganisms in the soil. The small bacteria and fungi are full, busy decomposing organic matter and making the soil fertile. You said, isn’t this more labor-saving than carrying a bag of fertilizer all over the garden?

Let’s talk about attracting beneficial insects. If there are no flowers and plants in the orchard, the beneficial insects will not bother to come. Bees, ladybugs, and grasses are not just flying around. They must have food and a place to live. Cultivating raw grass is equivalent to sending them an invitation letter. The flowering weeds - such as clover and wild chrysanthemums - are five-star restaurants for beneficial insects. Bees come to collect honey and pollinate the fruit trees; ladybugs come to eat aphids, and they clean up the pests like playing. Think about it, if you don’t have these weeds, you have to go and buy ladybugs and release them yourself. The picture is so embarrassing, like the fruit farmer’s version of “pet shop owner”.

Of course, raw grass cultivation is not a panacea. Some people will worry, will the weeds grow too crazy and compete with fruit trees for water and fertilizer? It is indeed possible, especially those who are particularly capable of growing, such as dogtail grass and barnyard grass, whose reproductive ability is as strong as a cheat. If they were allowed to grow wildly, the fruit trees might be so hungry that they were pale and thin. So, the key here is "management", not "free stocking". You have to learn to live in peace with the weeds, not to let them play a role, but not to let them scatter.

So how to do it specifically? Don’t panic, I’ll give you some advice now, to ensure it’s simple and funny, and even Lao Wang next door can learn it. The first step is to choose the right weeds. Not all weeds are suitable for being "teammates", you have to choose those with "good temper". For example, clover and alfalfa can not only fix nitrogen and improve soil, but also make flowers and insects. They are simply "model citizens" in the orchard. As for those crazy-growing types, such as thatch and Canadian thistle, please ask them to leave as soon as possible, otherwise your orchard will turn into a grassland sooner or later. The second step is to control the height. If weeds grow too tall, they will block the light of the fruit tree and will also compete with the fruit tree for water, so they have to be pruned regularly. Don’t use herbicides, that thing goes completely contrary to the concept of raw grass cultivation, which is equivalent to slapping oneself in the face. You can use a lawn mower, or a more cost-effective method - put a few sheep in and chew it. The sheep will be happy to eat, you save labor, and you can also sell some wool at the same time, which is a win-win situation.

The third step is to observe the insects. There are so many beneficial insects that are attracted by raw grass cultivation, so you have to see if they are really working. Take a magnifying glass and go around the orchard to see if the ladybugs are eating aphids and whether the bees are busy pollinating. If you find that the pests are still very arrogant, you have to intervene manually, such as putting some predatory mites or using some organic pesticides, and don't use your ultimate move to kill the weeds as soon as you come up. Step 4: Wait patiently. Raw grass cultivation is not an immediate effect. The soil has been improved for a year or two, and the team of beneficial insects has gradually grown. You have to have a "farming like raising a baby" mentality, don't expect to plant it today and bear fruit tomorrow.

Speaking of this, you may still be a little skeptical: "Is this weed so amazing?" Let me tell you a real story. I have a friend Lao Li. The orchard used to be "clean enough to sleep" but the soil was like cement floor and the fruit trees grew like malnourished children. Later, he heard my bad idea, tried to cultivate raw grass, planted some clovers, and left some wild flowers. There was no big change in the first year, and he even came to me to complain, "Did you fool people by doing this?" As a result, the second year, the soil was loose, the fruits were sweet, and there were fewer aphids, so he was so happy that he couldn't even close his mouth. Now he yells to everyone: "Weeds are the savior of my orchard!" Look, isn't this more worry-free and money-saving than weeding?

Of course, raw grass cultivation also has its "pit". For example, in the early stage, you have to spend some time selecting and controlling grass, and don’t expect to do it once and for all. Also, if the orchard is already low in water, weeds may really aggravate the drought. At this time, you have to weigh whether to weed or grow grass. But overall, the benefits of growing raw grass are real, especially for those fruit farmers who want to be lazy and want to have a good harvest. Think about it, you don’t need to weed or buy fertilizers all the time, and you can spray less pesticides. Isn’t this the highest level of “lying flat farming”?

Let me say a few more details about soil improvement. The root system of weeds can not only loosen the soil, but also increase the soil's granular structure. Do you know what a granular structure is? The soil particles stick together to form small balls, which are both breathable and water-retaining. The roots of the fruit tree are connected to follow the five-star hotel. Those deep-root weeds can also "suck up" groundwater, which is equivalent to installing a natural drip irrigation system for the fruit trees. Compared to running around the garden with water pipes, this is not a little more efficient.

There are also some considerations in the beneficial insects. Not all weeds can attract good bugs, you have to choose the kind that has a long flowering period and a lot of nectar. For example, the three-leaf clover can bloom from spring to autumn during the flowering period. The bees buzz and buzz around when they see it as a buffet. There are also wild carrots. Although the names are rustic, the flowers blooming are umbrella-shaped, and they are the favorites of ladybugs and grass. If you are too lazy to pick it, just make a "weed mix", come with some grass, and do an orchard version of "biodiversity experiment", there are always a few that can meet the appetite of beneficial insects.

Finally, I would like to talk about the key to growing grass is mentality. You have to treat weeds as friends, not enemies. Don’t always think about “get rid of them”, but think about “how to use them well”. It's like keeping a pet, you have to feed it and care about it to make it obedient. Leaving some weeds in the orchard will not only save money and effort, but also make your fruit trees live more moisturized. Why not do it? So next time I pick up the hoe, ask myself: Am I going to weed or get rid of the future of the orchard? As for the answer, I think you already know the answer. Try growing raw grass quickly and don’t let your orchard continue to be “bald”!