Cover Crops: Feed Your Soil Naturally with West Coast Seeds

A healthy garden starts with healthy soil — and one of the easiest ways to build fertility is by planting cover crops (also called green manures). These crops aren’t grown for harvest, but for the amazing benefits they return to your soil.

Why Plant Cover Crops?

Cover crops work quietly in the background to:

• Fix nitrogen: Clovers and vetch add natural nitrogen, reducing the need for fertilizers.

• Improve soil structure: Grains like fall rye and winter wheat loosen compacted soil and increase organic matter.

• Suppress weeds: Dense growth shades out weeds before they take hold.

• Protect soil: Roots prevent erosion and keep nutrients from washing away in winter rains.

Popular Cover Crops We Carry

• Fall Rye – Hardy, fast-growing, and excellent for weed suppression and organic matter.

• Winter Wheat – Builds soil fertility, slower to break down than rye.

• Buckwheat – A quick summer option that attracts pollinators and smothers weeds.

• Hairy Vetch – A vigorous nitrogen fixer that pairs well with cereal crops.

• Dutch White Clover – Low-growing perennial, great as living mulch.

• Alsike Clover – Tolerates wetter soils; strong nitrogen fixer.

• Crimson Clover – Adds nitrogen, flowers beautifully, and attracts pollinators.

• Yellow Clover – Deep-rooted biennial that improves soil tilth and captures nutrients.

Timing & Application

• Late Summer/Fall: Sow rye, wheat, or clovers after your veggie harvest. They’ll grow before frost and protect your beds all winter.

• Spring/Summer: Plant quick growers like buckwheat between crops or in empty beds.

How to sow:

1. Rake the soil lightly.

2. Broadcast seed evenly.

3. Cover with a thin layer of soil or compost.

4. Water to establish.

   
   

Turning Them Under

In spring, mow or till under your cover crop 2–3 weeks before planting. As the green matter breaks down, it feeds your soil and preps it for strong new growth.

In Summary...

Cover crops are like a savings account for your soil — a small effort now pays off in healthier gardens and better harvests for years to come. Stop by B&K Garden & Landscape Supply to pick up West Coast Seeds cover crops and set your soil up for success.