Some green manures are also successful at suppressing plant diseases. Green manure crops often provide habitat for many native pollinators as well as predatory beneficial insects, which allow for a reduction in the input of insecticides where cover crops are planted. The deep rooting properties of many green manure crops make them efficient at suppressing weed. Green manure crops are also useful for weed control, erosion prevention, and reduction of insect pests and diseases. The amount of humus found in the soil also increases with higher rates of decomposition, which is beneficial for the growth of the crop succeeding the green manure crop. Further aeration of the soil results from the ability of the root systems of many green manure crops to efficiently penetrate compact soils. Soil that is well- aggregated has increased aeration and water infiltration rates, and is more easily turned or tilled than non- aggregated soil. Microbial activity in the soil also leads to the formation of mycelium and viscous materials which benefit the health of the soil by increasing its soil structure (i.e. This additional decomposition also allows for the re-incorporation of nutrients that are found in the soil in a particular form such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. The degradation of plant material allows the nutrients held within the green manure to be released and made available to the succeeding crop. ![]() Green manures usually perform multiple functions that include soil improvement and soil protection: Incorporation of cover crops into the soil is immediately followed by an increase in abundance of soil microorganisms that aid in the decomposition of this fresh material. Legumes are often used as green manure crops for their nitrogen fixing abilities, while non-leguminous crops are used primarily for weed suppression and addition of biomass to the soil. as well as non-leguminous crops such as sudangrass, millet, sorghum, and buckwheat. Green manure crops may include legumes such as cowpeas, soybeans, annual sweet clover, vetch, etc. What in the World is ‘Green Manure’ or ‘Cover Crops’ and Why Should I Care? Watering: Keep your new area watered for the first month or two and then it should be self-sufficient unless you are having a drought. If strictly sowing a grass mixture or an individual grass species, you can lightly rake in or cover your grass seed lightly. If you can, use a lawn roller or lay down a large board and walk on it to compress (squash down) the seed into the bare soil. Once seed is sown, be sure you have a good seed to soil contact. This way, you should have even spreading and no bare spots. Then go back in the opposite direction and do the same with the second bucket. ![]() Next, sow one bucket’s mix over your whole area. The sand does two things: It “dilutes” the seed, making it easier to sow evenly, and since it’s light-colored, it shows you “where you’ve been” on the dark soil as you go. Put your grass seed into two buckets add in any wildflower seed and some sand. You can use a hand crank seed sower, but most simply scatter the seed by hand. (If you let time go by between preparation and spreading your seed, you’re giving possible weeds an advantage over the new seed you wish to sow. Once your soil is prepared and free of previous growth, it’s important to sow immediately. If using the roto-till method, you can seed after the second or third tilling. ![]() If you want to be sure your soil is “weed seed free”, you’ll have to till, wait for the crop of new weeds to grow, usually one to three weeks and till again as in step one before reseeding to have the best shot at eradicating them. Deep tilling may bring up dormant weed seeds lying beneath which will compete with your flowers. Till only deep enough to remove all old roots. Remove all existing growth, either by hand, roto-tilling, rough or power raking. Prepare the area where you would like to plant native grass seed as you would for a wildflower seed mix. You can also use some grasses like rye as a ‘green manure’ over the winter months to repair or rectify your soil. Planting native grasses has become increasingly popular over the last few years as they have low environmental impact. Grasses are used for conservation, erosion control, creating natural areas and for wildlife habitats.
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