What to Plant in October: 5 Easy Cover Crops for a Healthier Fall Garden
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Time to read 2 min
As summer gardens wind down, October is the perfect time to give your soil some love before winter sets in. Planting cover crops—sometimes called “green manure”—is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve soil health, prevent erosion, and prepare for a thriving spring garden.
Whether you’re in a cool northern zone or a mild southern one, these five easy cover crops are perfect for fall planting.
Winter rye is one of the most popular and versatile fall cover crops. It grows quickly, tolerates cold weather, and is great for improving soil structure. It also prevents erosion, suppresses weeds, and adds organic matter when tilled back into the soil in spring.
Crimson clover adds beauty and function to your fall garden with its deep red blooms that appear in spring. This legume fixes nitrogen naturally, improves soil fertility, and attracts pollinators when it blooms.
A cold-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing legume that’s perfect for overwintering. Hairy vetch provides lush ground cover that reduces soil erosion and builds nitrogen-rich soil for spring crops.
Oats grow fast and provide a soft, protective blanket for your soil over fall and early winter. They prevent erosion, add organic matter, and naturally die back in winter—making spring bed prep easy.
Known as a “bio-drill,” tillage radish has deep roots that break up compacted soil and improve drainage. Great for improving soil aeration, reducing compaction, and scavenging leftover nutrients from summer crops.
Planting cover crops in October is one of the best ways to invest in your garden’s long-term health. Whether you choose rye, clover, vetch, oats, or radish, your soil will thank you come spring with richer structure, better drainage, and fewer weeds. Shop our Fall Gardening Bundle now to grow greener, healthier, and bigger.