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ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question How can a cover crop be useful in a residential scenario?

Answer While the term “cover crop” evokes images of vast fields of crimson clover, a cover crop is any crop whose main purpose is to benefit the soil or other crops, but is not intended to be harvested for feed or sale.

Farmers use cover crops to benefit the soil in many ways. Examples include adding nutrients, preventing nutrient runoff, enhancing soil structure, adding organic matter, decreasing erosion and increasing microbial activity. Cover crops can also increase beneficial insect populations, suppress weeds, decrease soil temperature, feed domestic animals/wildlife and suppress diseases. Homeowners can reap these same benefits.

Since the seeds of most cover crops are purchased by the pound, homeowners have an advantage over farmers – economics of scale. It is a lot cheaper to buy 3 or 4 pounds of clover seed to cover a vegetable garden than it is to buy 400 pounds of clover seed to cover a corn field.

The most common homeowner use of cover crops would be to improve vegetable gardens. Cover crops should be seeded in the fall in order to reap the benefits the following summer. Winter legumes like clover and vetch add nitrogen which reduces the need for fertilizer the following spring. Non-legumes (like ryegrass, mustard or wheat) add organic matter and prevent erosion.

Most homeowners don’t realize cover crops have other benefits. Feeding wildlife is a good example. Small summer plots of millet and sunflowers can be used as bird food while suppressing weeds. If planted separately, herbicides can be used to manage broadleaf weeds under millet and grassy weeds under sunflowers. If planted together (densely), most weeds will be shaded out and no herbicides are necessary.

Small plots of clover, beans or peas can be used to divert or decoy animals like deer and squirrels. It is easier to deter deer from your vegetable garden if you give them a small clover patch on the other side of the yard (as far as possible). Perennial clover planted under fruit and nut trees also gives deer an alternative to your trees. Keep in mind deer will still chew on your trees. Hopefully, their damage won’t be as bad. At the very least, you will have peace of mind knowing you are contributing to a better diet for the wild goats (deer) in your neighborhood.

Cover crops like buckwheat, clover and beans can enhance pollinator and other beneficial insect populations. Small plots of cover crops can also serve as food for compost bins. The secondary uses of cover crops are nearly limitless. Your imagination is the only limitation.

For more info on cover crops, visit http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html If you don’t have internet access, call the Extension Office at 893-7530 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org

The use of “resident vegetation” as a cover crop does have benefits, but it shows the least amount of imagination.

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County