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At the dacha all season there is endless fight against weeds. Due to their unpretentiousness, they adapt to any conditions, survive and reproduce quickly even in poor soils. There are many ways to get rid of weeds. Among them, the cultivation of crops that suppress the growth of weeds and at the same time improve soil fertility deserves special attention. The question of how to sow a garden to prevent weeds from growing has a surprising answer - green manure plants or green fertilizers.
After the green manure has accumulated sufficient green mass, it is mowed down into compost or mulch. There is no need to dig up the soil - the roots will gradually rot on their own, fertilizing it. Most green manure prefers slightly acidic and neutral soils. You need to choose what to sow the area with, taking into account their characteristics.
Benefits of green manure
Green manure is gradually becoming widespread among gardeners due to its availability and beneficial properties. Their advantages are obvious:
- they make it possible to almost completely eliminate the use of mineral fertilizers, as they enrich the soil with microelements;
- restore the soil after acidification with fertilizers;
- loosen, improving its structure;
- activate soil microflora;
- having a phytosanitary effect, they inhibit dangerous pathogens;
- suppress the growth of weeds.
Green manure legumes
Legumes are the most unpretentious. This is the most widespread crop, including up to 18 thousand species. Among them are herbaceous plants - annual and perennial, which grow well in temperate climates. Shrubs and trees are common in the tropics. Peas, beans, lentils and others are typical for Russia. They can withstand light frosts and begin to sprout at three degrees Celsius, which allows them to be used in almost any climate zone. In addition to food beans, numerous types of forage beans are used - alfalfa, clover and ornamental ones - sweet peas, acacia.
Beans can be planted in early spring, and in the fall they produce green mass almost until the first night frost. Thanks to nitrogen-fixing bacteria located on the root system, the soil is enriched with nitrogen in a form accessible to plants. Legumes are also good for trees. The roots of plants, going deep into the soil, will become a source of nitrogen for them.
broad beans
It is recommended to plant broad beans in marshy or clayey soils. They are excellent green manures due to their characteristics:
- plants have a well-developed root system, capable of draining and structuring soil up to almost two meters deep;
- normalize soil pH, reducing its acidity;
- convert phosphorus compounds into a form accessible to plants;
- they are cold-resistant and are not afraid of frost down to minus eight degrees;
- beans are also rich in minerals.
Sweet clover
This is a large green manure plant with powerful roots that go deep into the soil. It tolerates frost and drought well and improves the soil structure of salt marshes. It can be used in the fight against wireworms and other pests. Sweet clover is usually planted at the end of summer and left for the winter; in the spring, green mass grows again, which is cut off before flowering.
Sainfoin
The perennial honey plant sainfoin has unique green manure characteristics:
- it is able to germinate even on rocky soils;
- thanks to strong and long roots, up to 10 meters, it perfectly drains the soil and carries nutrients from deep layers closer to the surface;
- The plant is resistant to drought and frost.
Other members of the family
- Peas have all the properties of legume green manures. It grows quickly and prevents weeds from multiplying. The plant prefers neutral soils and loves moisture. Peas are usually planted at the end of summer, and until autumn they gain sufficient green mass.
- In early spring, it is useful to sow tomato beds with vetch, an annual legume green manure plant that quickly gains green mass, suppresses weeds and structures the soil. The vetch is cut 10-14 days before planting tomato seedlings.
- You can sow lupine in abandoned areas. Green manure grows well on any soil, significantly improves their fertility and is considered the best predecessor for garden strawberries.
- Alfalfa is an excellent perennial green manure that increases soil fertility with green mass rich in nutrients. The plant loves moist, but not swampy, neutral soils. It is mowed during the period of bud formation.
- Seradella can produce two crops of green mass in one season. This moisture-loving annual plant can grow in poor soils if provided with water. Easily tolerates frost.
Cruciferous
Plants from this family are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and resilience, and their root secretions repel many pests and inhibit late blight pathogens.
White mustard
An annual herbaceous plant of the cruciferous family, white mustard is quite resistant to frost; it can be planted in the middle zone of the country as early as March. As a green manure, it has the following characteristics:
- suppresses the growth of weeds - is an effective remedy against bindweed;
- binds iron in the soil, thereby protecting plants from late blight;
- inhibits pests such as pea moth and slugs;
- the resulting green mass turns into humus useful for plants;
- mustard produces roots up to three meters long, which loosen and drain the soil;
- retains nitrogen in it;
- after the first snow, the stems and leaves fall on the ground on their own, forming mulch and protecting it from frost;
- after mustard it is good to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, and beans and grapes feel comfortable next to it;
- Like a wonderful honey plant, it attracts bees to the garden.
Related plants
- Rape characterized by resistance to light frosts and rapid growth of green mass - in a month it can grow up to 30 cm. With the help of long roots, it pulls mineral compounds of phosphorus and sulfur from the soil and converts them into a form accessible to garden crops.
- Oilseed radish - the most unpretentious plant of this family and an excellent green manure that is not afraid of either drought or frost. Thanks to its strong root system, it adapts perfectly to a wide variety of growing conditions. Has a depressing effect on wheatgrass. Even with late planting, it manages to gain significant green mass.
- Surepka - annual moisture-loving green manure. Even planted in September, with abundant watering, it quickly gains green mass.
Cereals
Cereals are excellent green manures. They effectively clear the area of weeds and fertilize it.
Oats
A green manure plant that grows well on acidic soils, and its roots have a phytosanitary effect against root rot. Grains are usually sown in early spring, after frosts have passed, and the green mass is harvested before flowering. Its green sprouts are very beneficial for the body. Oats enrich the soil with potassium in a form accessible to plants, so tomatoes, peppers and eggplants feel good after it.
Rye
Due to its frost resistance, rye is often used as a winter crop, sown at the end of August or in September. It effectively suppresses both weeds and pathogenic microflora. Rye also has a depressing effect on other crops, so you should not plant garden plants next to it. Usually the green mass is cut off at the end of spring, before planting vegetables. It is good to plant grass in wet areas to drain them.
Barley
Possessing all the positive properties of green manure, barley is drought-resistant, which allows it to be used in arid areas. It can withstand frosts down to -5 degrees and quickly grows green mass. Therefore, barley can be planted in early spring and mowed after a month and a half.
Buckwheat
Excellent green manure properties are observed in buckwheat:
- it grows very quickly, simultaneously with the green mass growing long roots up to one and a half meters;
- buckwheat is drought-resistant and does not take water from neighboring plants;
- it is well adapted to any soil and does not leave chemical compounds in them that inhibit the growth of other crops;
- enriches the soil with phosphorus and potassium;
- effective against perennial weeds such as wheatgrass.
Buckwheat can be used as a winter crop. Often it is planted in trunk circles around trees in gardens. It should be sown in spring when the soil is warm enough. The green mass of buckwheat is mowed before flowering begins.
Phacelia
Phacelia is universal in its green manure properties:
- it can withstand fairly low temperatures - down to minus nine degrees;
- grows even on rocky soils, quickly gaining green mass;
- not afraid of drought;
- you can sow a plot with it at almost any time - in summer, autumn or early spring;
- the plant has a phytosanitary effect on nematodes and various pathogens;
- after its sowing, almost all crops grow well;
- in the presence of legumes, their mutual effect is enhanced.
Amaranth
It is better to plant beds vacated after early vegetable crops with this heat-loving plant, and you can mow the green mass before flowering or before autumn frosts.It is unpretentious, takes root in both salty and acidic soils, and is not afraid of drought. Thanks to its long, two-meter roots, amaranth improves the structure of the soil and increases its fertility. The plant is disease resistant and has phytosanitary properties.
Calendula
An indispensable green manure for tomatoes, as well as for joint planting with eggplants and potatoes, is calendula. It belongs to medicinal plants that have a healing effect on the soil. It is planted by the end of August and the resulting green mass is mowed down in the fall.
Conclusion
Not all plants have green manure properties, but their list includes up to 400 items. These crops can be planted on the site all summer, alternating free areas, and the cut grass can be used for composting. Green manure successfully replaces chemicals, and today gardeners and gardeners are increasingly using these unique plants.
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