Cover crops serve several purposes. A site that is being prepared by cultivation for planting natives the following year may be subject to soil erosion. If so, a cover crop planted in the late summer will help hold soil in place. If only a cover crop is being planted, a heavy seeding rate is recommended. A cover crop planted with your native seed requires a much lower seeding rate. (see individual cover crops for suggested pounds per acre.).
Native seedlings are difficult to identify the first growing season, so a cover crop (which is easily identified) is a good success indicator. If the cover crop has germinated and is growing well, the native seed should also be fine even if you cannot see it yet. If heavy rains or other disturbance has occured, the missing cover crop will show areas requiring reseeding.
A good cover crop is oats, which can be planted with prairie seed to stabilize the soil. This annual plant grows rapidly, and if not seeded too heavy, will not compete with the wildflowers and grasses. Oats will not reseed itself.
Another good cover crop is Regreen™, a short-lived perennial wheat/wheatgrass hybrid that produces a sterile plant. After it dies out, it does not leave a new generation of plants to compete with the natives. Regreen™ is a highly versitile temporary cover crop that can be planted in either spring or fall in most climates. However, it is more costly than oats. We include a cover crop of Regreen™ with all our pre-designed seed mixes for small areas because it can be planted spring or fall.
If you think you need a cover crop, the following are recommended:
Oats are an annual cover crop for wet mesic to dry soils. Use for spring or summer seedings. Do not use Oats with fall or dormant seedings; seeds and seedlings do not overwinter. Use 20 lbs / acre if seeding with native seed
May - mid-July, or 96 lbs / acre if seeding the cover crop alone in
the summer.
Barnyard Grass (or Japanese Millet) is an annual cover crop for wet and wet-mesic soils. Ideally it is for wetland seedings, spring or fall. Use 1 lb per acre when planting with your native seed.
It is a good cover crop for any soil that needs extra erosion control. But, be warned, Annual Rye Grass may be allelopathic which can inhibit germination or slow the growth of other species. 5 lbs per acre if you are seeding Annual Rye
Grass with your native seed.
Regreen™ is a short-lived perennial wheat/wheatgrass hybrid that produces a sterile plant. Regreen™ is a highly versatile temporary cover crop that can be planted in either spring or fall in mesic to dry soils. Use 10 lbs per acre if you are planting Regreen™ with your native seed.
Winter Wheat is an annual cover crop for mesic to dry soils. Use 10 lbs per acre when planting with your native seed or 90 lbs per acre if seeding the cover crop alone; for fall or dormant seedings.
