7. Use Cover Crops to Rejuvenate the Soil
If you have garden beds that you do not plan to use for active food production this autumn, do not leave them bare. Bare soil is highly susceptible to erosion from winter rains, nutrient leaching, and weed infestations. Instead, plant cover crops, also known as “green manure,” to protect and enrich your soil over the winter months. Excellent autumn cover crops include winter rye, crimson clover, hairy vetch, and field peas.
Cover crops perform a variety of essential functions for your garden ecosystem. Legumes like clover and vetch form symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria to capture nitrogen from the air and fix it into the soil, providing free fertilizer for your next summer crops. Deep-rooted cover crops like tillage radishes break up compacted clay soil, improving aeration and drainage. In the spring, simply chop down the cover crops and incorporate them back into the soil, where they will decompose and add valuable organic matter.