Why Grow Cover Crops
Easy Soil Improvement
Just as you probably wouldn’t dream of going out in public without clothes, regardless of the season, your garden soil should be covered as well. We rely on clothing to protect us from the elements and keep us comfortable; our gardens need a layer of protection, too.
That’s where cover crops come in.
Just as clothing protects us from the elements, cover crops act as a living blanket for your soil, insulating it from extreme temperatures, preventing erosion from wind and rain, and supporting a rich ecosystem beneath the surface.
They are nature’s way of providing year-round comfort and protection for your garden, no matter the season.
While there’s no magical “cure-all” in gardening, cover crops come remarkably close. These humble plants work tirelessly, enriching your soil, suppressing weeds, and attracting beneficial insects – all without the need for harsh chemicals or intensive labor. It’s like having a team of dedicated helpers working around the clock to improve your garden’s health.
We believe in the power of nature’s wisdom and understand the unique needs of home gardeners—because we are gardeners ourselves. That’s why we offer a curated selection of cover crop seeds, chosen specifically for their usefulness to home gardens and their improvements to soil health.
Ready to unlock your garden’s full potential through cover crops? We’ll show you their benefits, how to choose the right ones for your needs, and simple techniques for integrating them into your gardening routine, no matter the size of your garden or your experience level.
Garden Cover Up Mix seedlings.
Why Cover Crops Matter
The Unsung Heroes of Your Garden
Benefits of Cover Crops for Your Home Garden
Erosion Control: Cover crops are a natural shield for soil. Their roots create a strong network that holds the soil in place, preventing it from being washed or blown away by wind, rain, or snowmelt.
Moisture Management: Cover crops act like a sponge, helping your soil soak up and retain water better for longer. Their roots create channels so water can penetrate deeper, while the leafy canopy reduces evaporation, moderating your garden soil moisture even during hot, dry spells.
Soil Food Web: Just like we need nutritious food, so does your soil. Cover crops add valuable organic matter as they decompose, providing a feast for beneficial microbes and earthworms. This creates a healthy soil ecosystem that nourishes your plants and helps them grow strong and healthy.
Natural Fertilizer: Forget synthetic fertilizer! Cover crops release nutrients naturally as they break down, providing a slow and steady source of nourishment for your garden.
Nitrogen Boost: Certain cover crops, like legumes (peas, clover, vetch), have the unique ability to capture nitrogen from the air and convert it into a usable form for your plants. This natural process reduces the need for additional nitrogen fertilizers, promoting healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
Soil Aeration & Structure: The extensive root systems of cover crops loosen compacted soil and create channels for air and water to flow freely. This improved soil structure benefits plant roots, allowing them to access nutrients and moisture more easily while also providing a welcoming environment for beneficial soil organisms.
Underground Party: Healthy soil is teeming with life. Cover crop roots and organic matter create the perfect, rich environment for earthworms, beneficial bacteria, and fungi to thrive, contributing to a healthy and balanced soil food web. This underground community helps break down organic matter, release nutrients, and fight off harmful pathogens.
Pest & Weed Management: Nature’s Way to a Healthy Garden
Welcome the Good Guys: Cover crops create a sanctuary for beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and pollinators. They feast on pests, pollinate your plants, and contribute to a balanced garden ecosystem. It’s like setting up a bed and breakfast for the helpful bugs in your garden.
Crowd Out the Competition: Cover crops are a protective barrier, outcompeting weeds for space, sunlight, and nutrients. Their dense growth crowds out unwanted plants and shades the soil, making it difficult for weed seeds to germinate. They even release natural chemicals—called auxins—that discourage weed growth.
Natural Pest Control: By attracting beneficial insects and suppressing weeds, cover crops reduce the need for harmful herbicides and pesticides. This means a healthier garden for you, your family, and the pollinators that visit your garden.
While cover crops offer immediate benefits like weed suppression and attracting beneficial insects, their true power is in their long-term effects. To truly see the rewards of cover cropping, it’s important to understand that it’s not a one-and-done solution. By planting cover crops each season, you create a continuous cycle of improvement, cultivating a garden ecosystem that becomes increasingly resilient and productive each season.
Each cover crop planting contributes to the overall health of your soil, building organic matter, improving structure, and nurturing beneficial microbes. Improved soil quality leads to healthier plants, which support a more balanced ecosystem, further enhancing the soil’s fertility and resilience. This cumulative effect builds over time, giving you a garden that’s not only highly productive but also resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.
Think of cover crops as a long-term investment in your garden’s future. By planting them consistently, you don’t just get rewards this season but also build fertile, healthy soil that will support abundant harvests for years to come.
Cover crop roots build soil organic matter.
How Cover Crops Work
Behind the Scenes of a Thriving Garden
Above-Ground: Cover Crops in the Spotlight
Natural Shade: Cover crops create a leafy, living canopy that shades the soil, keeping it cool and reducing moisture evaporation.
Mulch Makers: After a frost or mowing kills them, cover crops become nutrient-rich mulch that blankets the soil. As it decomposes, this organic matter suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, and gradually adds valuable nutrients to your garden.
Below Ground: The Hidden Power of Cover Crops
Nutrient Miners: Cover crop roots act like tiny miners, digging deep into the soil to bring up essential nutrients that might otherwise be out of reach of your vegetable roots. These nutrients are then released back into the soil as the cover crop decomposes, creating a natural, slow-release fertilizer for your plants.
Erosion Busters: Like a network of underground anchors, cover crop roots hold the soil together, preventing it from being washed away by heavy rains or blown away by strong winds. This is especially important on slopes or in areas prone to erosion.
Hidden Giants: It’s easy to focus on the leafy green tops of cover crops, but the real magic happens below ground. In fact, the underground contribution of cover crops – in terms of root mass and organic matter – can be three to five times greater than what you see above the surface! Think of a vast and diverse network of roots reaching deep into the soil and spreading out like a complex highway system. Some cover crops have deep taproots, acting like powerful drills that penetrate compacted soil, creating channels for air and water, while others have shallow, fibrous roots that create a dense mat near the surface.
This intricate web is crucial for your garden. It improves soil structure at various depths and transports nutrients and moisture throughout the soil, creating a thriving ecosystem that nourishes your plants far better than any fertilizer could.
Two pollinators on Garden Cover Up Mix cover crops.
Choosing Your Cover Crop Mix
Choosing the right cover crop mix can feel a bit overwhelming, so we’ve done the legwork for you! Our two hand-picked mixes are designed to meet the most common needs of home gardens everywhere.
If your garden soil is doing alright but could use a little boost, our “Garden Cover Up” mix is the perfect choice. It’s like a multivitamin for your soil, providing a balanced blend of nutrients and benefits to keep things thriving.
For areas that need some serious TLC, like a dormant bed or struggling soil, our “Soil Builder” mix is the answer. Think of it as a rejuvenating spa treatment for your garden, packed with ingredients to restore vitality and kick-start healthy growth. It’s fantastic for prepping a new growing area, whether you’re planting trees, shrubs, flowers, herbs, or vegetables.
Still not sure which mix is right for you? No problem! Check out our handy guide, “Which Cover Crop is Best for Me?” for a closer look at the benefits of each mix and how to choose the perfect one for your garden’s unique needs. We’re here to help you every step of the way!
Starting on the cover crop journey is a bit like exploring a new recipe—there’s room for experimentation, learning, and discoveries to make it your own. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each garden, season, and cover crop mix offers a unique opportunity to observe, adapt, and fine-tune your approach.