Soil Building Cover Crops

Add nitrogen to your soil with our cover crop seeds!

Dense upright soil-building cover crop

Grow better soil from the ground up

Soil-building cover crops include individual species and mixes selected to produce roots, shoots, and plant residue that can protect bare ground and contribute organic matter. They are useful between garden crops, during fallow periods, and in larger farm, orchard, or vineyard systems where growers want a planned period of living soil cover.

Choosing for a home garden? Use the Cover Crop Selector for Home Gardens to answer a few quick questions and get recommendations based on your growing space, season, and garden goals—plus estimated seed and inoculant needs.

How Soil-Building Cover Crops Work

Different plant groups contribute different functions. Grasses often produce fibrous roots and carbon-rich biomass. Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen when compatible rhizobia are present and the stand is successfully established. Broadleaf crops add diversity and may establish quickly or develop different rooting patterns. Mixes combine several of these traits, while individual species let growers target a particular function or build a custom blend.

How to Choose a Crop or Mix

  • Planting season: Match the species or blend to fall, cool-season, warm-season, or longer-term planting conditions.
  • Climate and water: Account for winter temperatures, rainfall, irrigation, and the time available for establishment.
  • Primary goal: Compare biomass, nitrogen contribution, weed competition, erosion protection, rooting, or pollinator support.
  • Next crop: Leave enough time to terminate the cover crop and manage residue before the following planting.

Inoculation and Establishment

Review the product page for seed composition, seeding rate, raw or Nitrocoated status, and inoculant guidance. Raw seed containing legumes may require a compatible seed inoculant. Prepare a suitable seedbed, provide good seed-to-soil contact, and maintain adequate moisture through establishment.

Shop branded Peaceful Valley Soil Builder Cover Crop Mixes, explore all Peaceful Valley Cover Crop Mixes, or use the Cover Crop Solution Chart to compare choices.