Best Cover Crop To Stop Weeds. Thick dense cover crop stands can help reduce the establishment of weeds. Transplant small plugs from established plants in early spring or fall when theyre not in bloom or root cuttings during the summer and plant them in autumn.
A cover crop such as radish which establishes and canopies very quickly is an excellent weed fighter in the summer and fall. Breaks up compaction layers erosion control fast biomass growth grazing and forage potential nutrient scavenger. Sow warm season frost-tender cover crops like soybean buckwheat and millet after the spring frost-free date and at least six to eight weeks before the fall frost date to ensure rapid growth and good biomass production.
Boldface particularly strong effect N fixation potential 150 lba N recovery 70lba.
Some of these species are cereal rye wheat triticale barley and hairy vetch. Planting at higher-than-normal seeding rates and in narrow rows can influence the amount of soil cover particularly in the first several weeks after seeding. However it leaves very little surface residue in spring causing minimal residual weed suppression. Most widely-used cover crop in the Midwest.