Among the many tasks to finish before fall ends, I rank cover cropping almost as important as sowing and planting winter seedlings. This year marks my first attempt at cover crops, and while it took a couple of years to feel confident about it, I’m excited to start. With the rising popularity of no-dig/no-till methods and the focus on soil health, there’s now plenty of easy-to-follow information on how to do it right.

I’ve heard horror stories about cover cropping gone wrong—where it becomes as troublesome as weeds—and that’s a scary thought for someone like me, who’s constantly battling weeds. But after weighing the pros and cons, I’m eager to give it a try. Quite frankly, I’m tired of hauling compost, and farming is taking a toll on my aging body (more on that in a future blog post). So I’m all about working smarter, not harder.

Advantages of Cover Cropping

We all know how weeds can take over a garden when a bed is left bare. This is where cover crops shine. Instead of weeds, cover crops take over and, depending on the seed mix, can nourish the soil and reduce compaction. Healthy soil means more nutrients for plants and a habitat for beneficial insects, which helps flowers grow stronger and resist diseases. And the best part? You may never have to haul compost into your garden again!

Disadvantages of Cover Cropping

However, if cover crops aren’t terminated at the right time, they can go to seed, spread like weeds, and leave you with more of a problem than when you started. Plus, with so many seed options, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. Planning is also key—you need to allow enough time for the seeds to germinate, grow, and then terminate before you can plant again.

Does this sound overwhelming? It did to me too, which is why I hesitated to start. But now I’m tackling it, and I want to share how I’m making it work.

How I Will Be Implementing Cover Cropping

I hope this process breakdown helps you feel confident about giving cover cropping a try. And don’t worry—you don’t need a huge space to start. It’s even easier to begin on a smaller scale, and the reward is rich, healthy soil that grows beautiful flowers with minimal pest issues.

Step 1: Create a Timeline

At our farm, we have we have 2 growing fields with a mix of mostly annual and some perennial plants. One field (field #1) I’m slowly dedicating to fall planted (over wintered) flowers and the other (field #2) to warm weather tender annuals.

Since I’m starting my cover cropping process now in the fall, I need field 1 to plant my fall crops, so I won’t cover crop this field until late spring. Field 2 is my starting point for cover cropping. I want the cover crops to grow through winter and I plan to terminate them late winter/very early spring. This gives me enough time before I plant my warm weather annuals.

Step 2: Choose Seeds & Timing

There are many places to get cover crop seeds, but Green Cover came highly recommended by other flower farmers (and you don’t need to be a farmer to buy from them!). To enrich my soil over winter, I purchased a mix of their cool season soil builder and their over winter mix. Either option works for home gardeners, but the overwinter mix is better suited for colder temperatures. Their website is super informative if you want to dive deeper into cover cropping.

Step 3: Ground Prep & Seeding

Just like sowing any seeds, you need to clear debris from the bed first. I lightly rake the soil to disrupt any weeds, then spread the cover crop seeds evenly. Using the back of a rake, I work the seeds into the soil to ensure good contact, then water gently.

To protect the seeds from birds and animals, I cover the beds with agribon fabric. This not only protects the seeds but also helps retain moisture and warmth, speeding up germination. I water daily or every other day until the seeds start to sprout, and after that, I can remove the fabric and water weekly if it doesn’t rain.

Step 4: Growing & Termination

Once your cover crops are growing, you can sit back and relax until it’s time to terminate them before planting. Terminating can be as simple as mowing, weed-whacking, or crimping (bending the stems so the plants can’t send nutrients to the roots). With no-dig/no-till, you want to keep the root system intact, so avoid pulling the plants out. Whichever method, be sure to leave the debris on the bed and cover it with landscape fabric for a few weeks. This kills the roots, and the debris acts as natural mulch for your new plants. Important: Make sure to terminate the cover crops before they go to seed, or you’ll end up with more than you bargained for!

I’m still in the sowing phase, but if you follow my Instagram or Facebook accounts, I’ll be sharing updates and progress along the way. I’ve also posted a short YouTube video showing my early steps.

Since this is my first time cover cropping, I’m learning as I go. But I hope this blog gives you a good overview of the benefits and encourages you to give it a try!