Late summer is the time to plant cover crops so you can replenish the soil with nutrients for your winter or summer crops the following year. Cover crops not only condition soil and improve the overall structure, but they also improve yield potential over time. Learn about common cover crops below and see which is right for your garden!
Buckwheat
· Suppresses Weeds
· Phosphorous Booster
· Thrives in All Soil Types
· Flowers Attract Favorable Insects
· Improves Organic Matter in Soil
· Conditions Soil
· Fast-Growing (matures in 4-6 weeks)
Clover (Crimson/Sweet/White)
· Suppresses Weeds
· Nitrogen Booster
· Helps Build Good Soil Structure
· Improves Organic Matter in Soil
· Reduces Soil Compaction
· Flowers Attract Favorable Insects(Crimson/Sweet)
· Long Root Structure Attracts Earthworms(Crimson)
· Works Well with Other Cover Crops (Crimson)
· Potassium Booster (Sweet)
· Phosphorous Booster (Sweet)
· Drought-Tolerant (Sweet)
· Tolerates High Traffic Areas (White)
Oats
· Suppresses Weeds
· Nitrogen Booster
· Phosphorous Booster
· Potassium Booster
· Cold-Tolerant
· Improves Organic Matter in Soil
· Allows for Early Spring Planting
· Works Well with Other Cover Crops
· Helps Establish New Plants
Ryegrass
· Suppresses Weeds
· Nitrogen Booster
· Cold-Tolerant
· Improves Organic Matter in Soil
· Allows for Early Spring Planting
· Conditions Soil
· Reduces Soil Erosion
· Helps Establish New Plants
Sorghum Sudangrass
· Suppresses Weeds
· Nitrogen Booster
· Improves Organic Matter in Soil
· Conditions Soil
· Reduces Soil Erosion
· Reduces Soil Compaction
· Fights Off Disease and Pests