How much compost?

[MossRoad]

I don't think the cover crop is a good idea for this area.

It seems it would be best to leave the ground bare for the winter.

There are several good reasons to use cover crops. One is to hold the soil in place from erosion by wind and water. Another is a crop that puts nitrogen back in to the soil so you don't have to use as much fertilizer. And another is that when you till it back in it leaves organic matter in the soil, which improves the soil.

What are the advantages of leaving it bare for the winter?

 

[Egon]

Cover crop in Wisconsin is a moot question at this time of year.

 

[MossRoad]

Cover crop in Wisconsin is a moot question at this time of year.

Why?

 

[Egon]

Will it grow in November?

 

[MossRoad]

Will it grow in November?

You can plant grass in any month that ends in R.

 

[NSBound]

You can plant grass in any month that ends in R.

Well, you can, but that's not going to say it'll grow!

 

[Egon]

http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/seasons/graphics/WI-32FALL50DAY.gif

Chances are ground temperatures may not be high enough for germination.

 

[Duffster]

There are several good reasons to use cover crops. One is to hold the soil in place from erosion by wind and water. Another is a crop that puts nitrogen back in to the soil so you don't have to use as much fertilizer. And another is that when you till it back in it leaves organic matter in the soil, which improves the soil.

What kind of cover can you plant now that will fix nitrogen?

Erosion isn't a big issue for me since it is fairly flat

What are the advantages of leaving it bare for the winter?

Bp Fick explained it better than I can in another thread. I will look for it.

Cover crop in Wisconsin is a moot question at this time of year.

There are some farmers that just planted winter rye around here and it will probably grow, if not now it will in the early spring. But they plant it for early hay not for a cover crop.

You can plant grass in any month that ends in R.

LOL We plant grass every month if the ground is open.

Well, you can, but that's not going to say it'll grow!

Even if it doesn't come up now it will come up much earlier than it will be dry enough to plant in the spring.

 

[Egon]

I planted some winter rye in the spring once. It grew to about 8 inches tall and stayed there for the rest of the year. Made the deer happy.

 

[jimmyj]

Hey Duffster, do you have to worry about wind erosion? Around here if a farmer tills a field in the fall you can see soil blown all over the snow in the next fields all spring.