• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Plant a Summer Cover Crop

Protect and enrich soil, reduce storm water runoff and reduce weeds with cover crops. These plants are grown in vacant spaces in the landscape to protect and prepare beds for future plantings.

Many gardeners plant cover crops in late summer or fall to prepare the soil for a spring planting. Late spring and early summer crops can be planted in gardens where the soil is worn out or as part of crop rotation.

Buckwheat is a popular summer cover crop that is often used for suppressing weeds. It needs 35 to 40 days to reach maturity. Till buckwheat plants into the soil six weeks after planting and reseed if your season is long enough. Or wait for it to go to seed, till plants in the soil and allow seedlings to develop. Plant a winter cover crop in fall to further improve the soil.

A bit more information:  Sudangrass is also used as a summer crop cover. Its strong deep root system helps reduce compaction and increase organic matter. It takes 60 to 70 days to be effective. Monitor sudangrass and make the first cutting when plants are 3 feet tall and a second time when it can still be cut, but before killed by frost. Once cover crops are tilled into the soil they are considered green manure.

Related

Upcoming Webinars & Appearances


March 25, 2023
OCMGA Annual Garden Conference
Appleton, Wisconsin

March 26, 2023
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

March 29, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Gardening Basics to Boost Your Success
Register now

April 1, 2023

REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

April 5, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
What's New - Discover
New & Unique Plants!
Register now

April 11, 2023

Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association's 2023 Speaker Series
Darmstadt, Indiana
 

April 18, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Growing a Bountiful Harvest even when Time, Space & Budget are Limited

Register now

April 20, 2023
SC Johnson Golden Rondelle Theater Speaker Series
Racine, WI
Register now

April 22, 2023
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL

April 25, 2023
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, MI

Watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win Melinda's Container Gardening Tips & Techniques DVD set

ENTER NOW