When and what to use for cover crop.

[NewClimber]

Not sure where to post this but I am hoping the wealth of information from this web page can help me..

I am attempting to get a section of ground ready this winter for spring planting of veggies. Right now it is clay type soil that was leveled out when our house was built. My idea was to till the ground now, then add some type of manure (looking at chicken manure but might use steer, depending on availability). I want to put something in place to stop erosion, I was thinking about putting hay down onto but then someone mentioned to me plant a winter crop of grass of some sort. This will give me my organic stuff to help with the clay soil next year. I was looking information up on annual ryegrasses, which looks to germinate quickly and can be tilled into the gound during the spring.

Am I on the right path with this type of ryegrass??
Is annual types of grasses something that will not come back next year??
Is it to late to plant something like this? I live in the pacific northwest..

Any suggestions are very welcome and thx in advance for the help...

 

[BadDog]

It's never too late... germination for most grasses only require that the seed touch the earth, some water, and typically temperatures above 50F.

You might also consider planting clover. It will germinate, grow, and spread much faster than grass.

In either case, you should spread a thin layer (1/2" or so) of mulch hay on top, after you've seeed. I just use stale hay that my horses won't eat any more; any nearby horse property will most likely be able to provide you with all the stale hay you can use. The hay will go a long way to stop erosion, and it will also soak up the morning dew to provide a consistent water source for the new seeds. It also provides nutrients as the hay decomposes.

Most annual grasses are also known commonly as weeds. They will grow whether you plant grass or not; mother nature will provide the seeds. Some are decorative grasses; since they are annuals; they don't spread or grow too quickly.

I would recommend you plant a standard mix of lawn grass; you can buy it almost anywhere; it's inexpensive and will definitely grow quickly over the winter with little or no attention, especially since you're fertilizing with manure (doesn't matter too much what type).

No matter what you plant, you can always till it into the soil in the spring. Since clover grows so quickly, it will provide a lot of the organic matter that your vegetables will be very happy with.

Also, no matter what, you're going to get weeds in your garden.

 

[JJT]

Plant winter rye, this will give you a ton of organic matter in the spring. It's an annual, so it will not come back. I see another poster said to plant lawn grass - don't, you will be fighting weeds forever, don't add to the weed problem. I've been using winter rye for years. Under $20/bushel.

 

[Onthesauk]

On fresh ground after new construction and located where you are, might be better off hauling in sawdust this fall, till it in and add extra nitrogen in the spring, i.e. chiken manure. One of the best ways to turn clay soils into good garden soil. I've got access to dairy manure where they use hardwood sawdust, (alder,maple, birch in our area,) for bedding and in three years has turned my clay into rich black soil. Once you get it enriched you can plant winter rye and hairy vetch each fall, will be waist high by spring.

 

[NewClimber]

I was told that putting in chicken manure or any manure in the spring will be to "hot" for the veggies and basically will kill them as the manure is breaking down...is there any truth to this??? This is why I was looking to do it in the fall and then just till up the ground in the spring with some top soil maybe??

 

[Priz]

mostly true, it's best to compost any manure for several months befoer it's spread, chicken litter is much higher in nitrogen than
most other manuers, with horse or cow manuer I'ev fount that simply letting it age until it becomes gray it will make suitable fertilizer

 

[Priz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I want to put something in place to stop erosion, I was thinking about putting hay down onto but then someone mentioned to me plant a winter crop of grass of some sort. )</font>

hay is a bad idea if you want a lawn, hay will contain many weed seeds that will become a real nusiance when you are trying to grow grass, theres plenty of cover crops that can be beneficial, alfalfa and legumes for instance can be turned back into the soil and will provide plenty of nitrogen for anything you plant next, alfalfa also has a long tap root that can break up large rock formations, that root will pull more nutrients from deep in the soil also benefitting your lawn.

heres a short list of easy to manage covers for overwintering
http://www.kuow.org/weekday_garden_notes/031001.txt

 

[dennisthomas]

I used winter rye last year and my soil really was nice this year. my neighbor came over this spring and turned it over with his plow (before i got my own tractor now all i need is a plow). i didn't get a chance to put any down this year. about the straw or hay to cover my neighbor put some down around their strawberries and they have more pasture weeds and thistles. the first two years on my garden i put 5-6 layers of newspapers down and put leaves on top. my garden is only appr 25x50 so it dosen't take that much leaf mulch and newspapers. good luck with your garden

 

[Onthesauk]

I put on fresh chicken manure in the Spring for years. Till it in and plant a few weeks later. Here in the NW it's pretty hard to burn anything with fresh manure because of all the rain. Last few years I have been putting on cow manure right out of the barn and planting a week or two later, never a problem.

 

[Slamfire]

Standard practice around here is to plow about now, and put down a heavy layer of manure. Then in the spring, it will be well rotted and not too hot. The dark earth will warm up faster than if it has cover. Then, because of the heavy clay, it gets turned under in the spring and harrowed into a fine seed bed. A spike harrow works for me.