Trees vs. Grass ... planting order?

Hello! (my first post here)
Landscaper is creating an orchard, s.Edinburgh at 800ft ASL
½acre has been cultivated and surface tilth is ready to be sown with meadow grass.
BUT - Project.Mngr urges us to defer planting trees (3yr old saplings) until Sept. once grass has established. His rationale is that trees planted first 'would be disrupted and damaged' if immediately followed by grass sowing.
I just cannot see this being the case (logically, the reverse seems more likely to me) and so I wonder if he either has an alternative personal agenda/schedule, or in my ignorance, he is absolutely spot on.
Can anyone out there cast any light on his decision?!
Thanks for any/all advice,
Confused of Edinburgh

 

As far as I can remember, it is recommended that grass is not sown until fruit trees are established. The competition between the grass and the trees is used later on to control the vigour of the fruit trees. And, in any case one is supposed to leave a one metre diameter circle round the tree trunk clear of all growth.

 

Hi Big-D and welcome to the site. The fruit trees are more important than the grass, they need to be in now so that they get established before the winter.:thumb:

 

Hi Big D. Trees are priority. You need to water them well, but i guess where you live helps. "in now" is an understatement. Good luck.

 

Well - a quick exchange of emails with Proj.Man today reveals that his true motive is indeed to favour his own schedule, rather than the best interests of my Project. So, we are having a 'summit meeting' at which time we will probably part company with him.

Hey-ho.

Thanks, everbody, for your advice on the original issue. Much appreciated.

 

Further to the above, the contractor is spouting bollock* The trees need to go in now, September is a terrible time to plant trees as it can still be quite warm and dry and you risk losing a few.

 

Don't agree with you there, fella, I'm afraid. September's one of the best times to plant trees. The ground is still warm enough for the roots to get established and start taking up nutrients before the tree shuts downs for the winter.

 

Trouble is they need watering, with a large planting thats quite a task.

Personally Id of scheduled it in for october, still warm enough for the grass seed to establish but no real need for watering or at the least minimal.