Alternate mowing for biodiversity and pest control in organic orchards

Alternate mowing in organic orchards boosts biodiversity by maintaining varied grass heights, supporting natural pest control and weed suppression. Mowing lanes every 4–6 weeks from April to August, especially in spring, reduces labor and costs while enhancing habitat complexity for beneficial insects. Outer lanes are kept short to deter voles. Grass clippings can be mulched into tree rows. Recommended tools include low-profile sickle and flail mulchers or rollers. Part of the BIOFRUITNET project, issued by FÖKO (Germany), 2022. Available in English (USA), French, German (Switzerland), and Latvian via Organic Eprints. Supports sustainable orchard management, soil health, and ecosystem services.