Are you confused about the many types of bees that visit your lawn and garden, or maybe even concerned that some might be nesting in your home?Sure, they all buzz around and collect pollen.But many species look alike
12.06.2023 - 01:13 / gardenerspath.com / Lorna Kring
How and When to Plant Cold Weather Cover CropsCold weather cover crops, or green manure crops, are planted from the end of summer to early fall for the purpose of enriching and protecting the soil.
Often overlooked in the home garden, they offer an easy and economical method of improving your garden’s productivity while it lies fallow in winter.
They’re an excellent, natural way to increase nutrients, condition the soil and improve its texture, protect against erosion, and suppress weeds at the same time.
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They also help to prevent water runoff, improve soil moisture retention, and provide valuable cold weather food and protection for birds, insects, and wildlife.
And they’re just as effective in small garden beds as they are for large-scale, commercial farmers.
So instead of letting your garden rest over winter, put a cold weather cover crop to work for better soil – your flowers, herbs, and veggies will love it!
Here’s what’s ahead:
What Are Cold Weather Cover Crops?Cold weather cover crops are those brassicas, grains and grasses, and legumes planted in late summer or early fall for the purpose of providing green manure and/or winter soil protection.
They’re clever end-of-season placeholders for your garden when you’re heading into winter.
Instead of buying or otherwise coming up with mulch materials, you can plant cover crops that do the mulching for you instead – forming a layer of living mulch once the plants die back from frost and cold.
Why is cold weather cover important? There are several good reasons:
The foliage and root systems help prevent erosion and loss of fertile topsoil due to rain, wind, or snow.
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