Cover Crops

Cover Crops

After feeding your family all summer long, perhaps you feel it's time to feed your soil. Cover crops are ideal for putting nutrients back into your soil and keeping weed growth to a minimum. In fact, cover crops can be used in summer or winter, and different reasons for using them include (reference):
  • Add Nitrogen
  • Erosion Protection
  • Stabilize Soil Aggregates
  • Reduce Surface Hardness
  • Break Up Deep Compaction
  • Increase Organic Matter
  • Reduce Weeds
  • Reduce Root Rot
  • Attract Beneficial Insects
Some resources that may help:

    • Related Articles

    • Chill Hours

      Many fruits and nuts require a certain number of chill hours in order to produce. The UC Home Orchard website describes chilling as "the number of hours below 45°F, is an important climatic factor that influences bud break, fruit set, and fruit ...

    • Citrus Tree Problems

      If you have problems with a citrus tree—including orange, lemon, lime—UC has resources that may help: Citrus Diseases and Disorders of Leaves and Twigs covers a range of problems including branch dieback, sooty mold, yellow leaves, and more. This ...

    • Hardening Plants

      Excerpt From: California Master Gardener Handbook, Second Edition. “Hardening is the process of slowing plant growth to withstand changes in environmental conditions that occur when transplants are transferred from a greenhouse or home to the garden. ...

    • Checking Tree Roots

      The Basics “When woody plants decline or die, assess the root system’s health. Suspect a root injury or disorder when an entire plant declines or dies. Digging out or around newly planted woody plants makes it possible to evaluate their root systems. ...

    • Plum Bud Gall Mites

      Plum Bud Gall Mites As noted in the Plum Bud Gall Mite (PBGM) Fact Sheet, this is a fairly new pest in California,. The CDFA provides additional information in their B pest rating summary. The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture doesn’t ...