From blocking pure light to shading the soil, cover crops prevent weeds in many ways
March 22, 2021 – Have you ever considered using a cover crop in your home garden? Farmers use them often. Cover crops have a lot of benefits, including weed control! This Sustainable, Secure Food blog explores the life of the weed seed and how cover crops can prevent these unwanted seeds from germinating in your garden. The blog post is part of the 2021 Seed Week celebration, organized by the Crop Science Society of America.
According to blogger Gina Nichols, cover crops can prevent weeds by:
- Providing protection for seed-eaters. It's harder for a hawk to see a mouse running along the ground if there's a cover crop. The mice protected by the cover crop will eat a lot more seeds.
- Preventing weed seeds from germinating. Weed seeds will only germinate when they sense pure light, which is blocked by the cover crop.
- Competing with weeds for resources. Cover crops hog a lot of the things a seed needs, including light, water, and nutrients.
To learn more about the benefits of cover crops and how to integrate them into your garden, read the entire blog: https://sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2021/03/22/how-can-you-prevent-weed-seeds-from-germinating-in-your-garden/
About us: This blog is sponsored and written by members of the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. Our members are researchers and trained, certified professionals in the areas of growing our world's food supply while protecting our environment. They work at universities, government research facilities, and private businesses across the United States and the world.
The American Society of Agronomy is an international scientific and professional society with its headquarters in Madison, WI. Our members are researchers and trained, certified professionals in the areas of growing our world's food supply, while protecting our environment. We work at universities, government research facilities and private businesses across the United States and the world.
