Covers crops (also known as "green manure") are used extensively
by organic farmers as a relatively inexpensive way to enhance
soil tilth, enrich soil with nutrients and organic matter, and
protect soil in winter from torrential winter rains. Cover crops
can include grains, grasses, and legumes that grow during fall
and winter and are plowed, spaded, or tilled under in spring.
While growing during the winter, cover crops help reduce soil
compaction and prevent erosion. Their roots penetrate and loosen
heavy-textured soils, allowing better air and water penetration.
Deeply-rooted cover crop plants can even break up heavily-
compacted soil, helping break up layers of soil that and greatly
improving soil tilth, particularly when planted for several
successive years. Inoculated legume cover crops can add nitrogen
to the soil. And when turned under, they add organic matter to
the soil—building better soil structure and fertility. So make
like a farmer and try cover crops in your home garden this fall.
It's easy to