21:05 Oct 26, 2011 

... yet again for so much great feedback folks. In the end I'm just using a telegraphic "area around tree base" for this context.

18:54 Oct 26, 2011 

I was out of the office for a few hours, but when I returned, I found this entry: Consiste en mantener de forma simultánea los ruedos de los árboles (en las plantaciones de forma libre) o las líneas (en ele, en el caso de las formas con espaldera) libres de malas hierbas mediante herbicidas, y el resto del suelo completamente [...] eur-lex.europa.eu
This involves using herbicides to keep the areas around the trees (in freely planted orchards) or along the lines of trees (in orchards with trellises) free of weeds while keeping the remaining areas completely covered with vegetation. eur-lex.europa.eu.

16:05 Oct 26, 2011 

Rototilling at Base of Tree

Most trees do not have a tap root, but instead have a spreading "pancake" root system. The majority of roots are within 12 inches of the soil surface. Therefore, if you cultivate within the top 12 inches of the soil you can damage the tree's roots. If you want to control weeds you can use a broad spectrum herbicide like Roundup at the base of the tree. Avoid getting the herbicide on the tree or on any root suckers at the base of the tree.

15:56 Oct 26, 2011 

My husband assures me that this is the meaning on ruedo in this context, but just for the record, I'd like to note that the word is also used to describe fields surrounding the nucleus of a town (ruedo as opposed to campiña).