artificialfield
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First you must decide which cover crop is right for your needs. Choices vary depending on the season, the growing conditions, and what you would like to achieve with your soil. Some crops are better than others for putting organic matter into the soil, others fix nitrogen, adding fertility to the soil, and still others are best at smothering weeds.
A winter cover crop is planted in fall or late fall to provide ground cover over the winter months. If a legume is chosen, it will also fix nitrogen. In northern climates, a hardy cover crop that can withstand cold winters is often chosen. Hairy vetch and rye are two common northern winter cover crop choices. In southern climates, there are many more choices as more plants can survive the temperate winter.
A summer cover crop is often called a "green manure." Summer cover crops can fill a niche in crop rotations, improve conditions in soil too difficult to grow in,or to add organic matter.
A living mulch is used for weed suppression and interplanted with another crop. For example, hairy vetch is often interplanted with corn to provide protection against weeds. Ryegrass can be broadcast into vegetables to prevent weed invasion.
A winter cover crop is planted in fall or late fall to provide ground cover over the winter months. If a legume is chosen, it will also fix nitrogen. In northern climates, a hardy cover crop that can withstand cold winters is often chosen. Hairy vetch and rye are two common northern winter cover crop choices. In southern climates, there are many more choices as more plants can survive the temperate winter.
A summer cover crop is often called a "green manure." Summer cover crops can fill a niche in crop rotations, improve conditions in soil too difficult to grow in,or to add organic matter.
A living mulch is used for weed suppression and interplanted with another crop. For example, hairy vetch is often interplanted with corn to provide protection against weeds. Ryegrass can be broadcast into vegetables to prevent weed invasion.
