permanent living mulch/cover crop on a vege garden
 

Does anyone here maintain a permanent living mulch/cover crop on a vege
garden. If so, what do you use.

I am looking for a permanent living mulch that would broadly fit the
following parameters

I am looking for something that would do ok on raised garden beds roughly
1.5 m wide and 3-4 m long and 200-300 mm high.

ideally a nitrogen fixer
smething that does not grow too high or too quickly
something that does not grow dense mat across the garden
something that will survive a few winter frosts and dry summers
something that I can cut back but which will slowly works its was back to
health
something that will last a few years

I have thought of various clovers. In my lawn I have Dutch/New Zealand white
clover which is ok but does run quite wild and is quite thick. A mate
suggested maybe red clover. I have investigated both, red clover is edging
ahead as it has a shorter life than white. This will be useful if I want to
terminate my trial

My growing conditions.
1200 mm average annual rainfall - most falling in winter
Winter - frosts (maybe 10-15 per year with perhaps -3 or 4 celcius at its
severe worst) highs less than 14 dgrees C.
Summer - dry between jan - march, average temp around 24 but highs from time
to time up around 28-30 and humid
Inland setting

Any tentative suggestions welcomed. Thanks


rob