Keep an empty bed covered

When to do it

When a bed will be empty between crops. A cover crop must suit local conditions and leave enough time before the next planting.

What you need

• Suitable mulch and finished compost if needed
• Or locally suitable cover-crop seed, rake and watering can
• Gloves

How to do it

1. Remove weeds and decide when the bed will next be needed. If the gap is short or you are unsure about a cover crop, choose mulch.
2. For the simple option, add mature compost where needed and cover exposed soil with suitable mulch. Keep stems of any retained plants clear and check water can pass through.
3. For a living cover, choose a locally suitable annual cover crop with a supplier or local horticultural adviser. Check its sowing season, water needs and how to stop it regrowing before buying.
4. Prepare a weed-free surface and sow at the packet’s rate and depth. Water gently as needed for establishment. Do not copy Northern Hemisphere sowing dates.
5. Cut the crop before it sets seed. Follow the species-specific termination method; some regrow after cutting. Compost the cut growth or use suitable seed-free material as cover. If incorporating green material, allow it to decompose before planting the next crop.

What success looks like

• The empty bed has protective cover.
• A living cover is stopped before seed set and before it obstructs the next crop.

Watch out for

• Letting a cover crop become a weed.
• Assuming every legume adds nitrogen in every situation.
• Sowing directly into freshly buried, undecomposed green growth.

Related help